New Delhi: Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu who will be visiting India for the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, said that “Maldives-India relations are heading in a positive direction”.
The Indian High Commissioner to Maldives Munu Mahawar personally handed over India’s invitation to President Mizzu, who expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister and said that he would be honoured to attend this historic event.
The statement also said that Mizzu looks forward to working with the Prime Minister to further strengthen the close relations with India.
This will be the Maldives’ President’s first visit to India since assuming charge in November last year.
The visit holds significance as the India-Maldives relationship was strained after Mizzu took over. Even during his election campaign, he had demanded a complete withdrawal of Indian armed forces from the country. In May this year, India completely withdrew its troops ahead of Mizzu’s May 10 deadline.
India has not only invited him to the swearing-in ceremony but ahead of his arrival in Delhi, a huge banner has also been put up outside the Foreign Ministry which features both PM Modi and Mizzu, NDTV reported.
A bilateral meeting between the two leaders is likely after the oath-taking, WION reported.
Among the other leaders from the Indian Ocean Region who accepted the invite to the Prime Minister’s oath-taking ceremony are Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Seychelles Vice-President Ahmed Afif, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay.
