Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu in Male on Friday as part of his state visit to the island nation. The meeting took place at Republic Square shortly after PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome.
PM Modi is visiting the Maldives at the invitation of President Muizzu and will attend the country’s 60th Independence Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour. His visit also marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and the Maldives.
The ceremonial reception included a 21-gun salute, a Guard of Honour by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), and a cultural performance by students from Aminiya School. Both national anthems were played during the welcome ceremony.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the event on social media as a commemoration of “60 years of special and historic India-Maldives ties,” and said delegation-level talks would follow.
President Muizzu also posted on social media, highlighting the ceremonial welcome and the participation of students and the MNDF in honouring the Indian leader.
PM Modi also interacted with Maldivian ministers and senior officials during his visit to Republic Square. In a symbolic gesture, a large photograph of PM Modi was displayed on the Ministry of Defence building in Male.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi expressed gratitude to President Muizzu for personally welcoming him at the airport. “Landed in Male. Deeply touched by the gesture of President Muizzu to come to the airport to welcome me. I am confident that India-Maldives friendship will scale new heights of progress in the times to come,” he wrote on X.
(ANI)