President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the neighbouring nation's continued support amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
President's Office said that the two leaders spoke on the phone on Wednesday, where they discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest.
Thanking Modi for the continued support from India despite the Covid-19 pandemic, President Solih said this undoubtedly "bolstered government's efforts to curb the detrimental impact on the economic progress and social wellbeing of the Maldivian people during this time of need".
While Maldives back in April sought essential commodities supply from India, it has agreed to do so without duty charge.
During Wednesday's call, Solih also thanked India for its decision to renew the quota for the import of essential commodities for a period of three years. Noting that this was the largest quota approved to date, the president said this "will bring greater predictability of imports and reassurance for businesses".
While Maldives' Covid-19 vaccination drive was kicked off following the donation of 100,000 Covishield doses from India, President Solih reiterated his gratitude to the PM and Indian government for this as well.
He further mentioned India’s assistance in evacuating Maldivian citizens from Wuhan, China at the start of the pandemic, donating and airlifting essential medicines, and for providing the expertise of a medical team to help tackle the Covid-19 health emergency. He also expressed appreciation for the air bubble established between the Maldives and India, stressing that it has "contributed significantly to gradually recover the downturn of the tourism sector due to Covid-19".
According to the President's Office, the PM Modi assured India’s full support to the Maldives in managing the Covid-19 recovery response, during the call.
He is to have offered warm congratulations to Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid on being elected as the President of the 76th United Nations General Assembly back in June.
The call ended with both the leaders reiterating their mutual commitment to elevate the close ties of friendship and cooperation between the Maldives and India.
While Maldives' relations with India had turned sour during former President Abdulla Yameen's tenure, things have improved since Solih took office in November 2018; Modi visited the Maldives for a few hours to attend his inauguration ceremony, this was his maiden trip to the island nation since his inauguration in 2014.
