Sushma Swaraj To Embark On Two-Day Visit To Maldives Today

New Delhi: Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will embark on a two-day visit to Maldives beginning on Sunday, in the first full-fledged bilateral trip from India to the island nation after the government of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih came to power in November.

Announcing the visit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it is aimed at further strengthening the “close and friendly” relations between the two countries.

“India attaches the highest importance to its relationship with the Maldives which is marked by trust, transparency, mutual understanding and sensitivity,” the MEA said.

In Male, Sushma Swaraj will have a bilateral meeting with Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid and delegation-level talks with Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi, Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer, National Planning and Infrastructure Minister Mohamed Aslam, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Aishath Nahula and Economic Development Minister Fayyaz Ismail.

“The ministers will review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and discuss future programme of action,” the MEA said.

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and a number of senior officials will accompany Ms Swaraj during the trip.

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