New Indian Ambassador, Shahid discuss milestones in India-Maldives ties

Indian Ambassador to Maldives, Sunjay Sudhir (L) calls on Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives, Abdulla Shahid (R) on March 5, 2019. (Photo/Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

New Indian Ambassador to Maldives, Sunjay Sudhir and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives, Abdulla Shahid engaged in discussion on ways to sustain and reinforce the bilateral relations between Maldives and India last Tuesday.

Ambassador Sudhir called on Minister Shahid last Tuesday afternoon.

During the meeting, the two diplomats discussed ways to sustain and strengthen renewed bilateral relations between the countries.

They also discussed milestones achieved in bilateral relations between the two country since the inauguration of the new Maldivian administration.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Maldives to attend the inauguration of Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on November 17, 2018, and President Solih’s state visit to India from December 16-18, 2018 were noted as highlights of bilateral relations between the Indian administration and the new Maldivian administration.

Both Ambassador Sudhir and Minister Shahid, during the meeting, agreed the visits set the framework for future engagements.

Ambassador Sudhir expressed his commitment to working closely with the Maldivian administration and the people of Maldives towards achieving mutual interests of both countries.

Indian Ambassador to Maldives, Sunjay Sudhir arrives at the President's Office to present his credentials to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on March 5, 2019. (Photo/President's Office)

Others in attendance at the meeting were: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Khaleel; Foreign Secretary, Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed; Director, India Division, Mariyam Midhfa Naeem; Counsellor (Political) at the Embassy of India to the Maldives, Archana Nair; Defense Advisor, Captain Prashant Handu; First Secretary, Subhash Ramakrishna Pillai; and Head of Chancery, Shitanshu Chaurasiya.

Ambassador Sudhir had presented his credentials to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih earlier on Tuesday afternoon in a ceremony at the President’s Office.

Indian Ambassador to Maldives, Sunjay Sudhir (L) presents his credentials to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (R) at the President's Office on March 5, 2019. (Photo/President's Office)

President Solih, during the ceremony, stressed the high esteem with which the Maldivian administration had always held India, and expressed his administration’s eagerness to collaborate on important bilateral, regional and international issues.

Ambassador Sudhir, in turn, reiterated Indian administration’s commitment to maintaining the historically friendly relations between Maldives and India.