India’s External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj has met with her Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid, on Sunday evening.
The minister is currently in the Maldives on a two-day official visit, having arrived on Sunday afternoon.
Shorly after arriving in the archipelago nation, a joint ministerial meeting was held at the foreign ministry where discussions were held on ways "to enhance cooperation bilaterally on a variety of issues, including consular issues, capacity development, health cooperation, trade, investment and economic cooperation."
Afterwards, a one-on-one meeting was held with Foreign Minister Shahid.
According to the ministry, both parties held bilateral talks and agreed “on a broad spectrum of issues for further collaboration, including development cooperation and enhancing people to people contact.”
Exchanging views on ongoing and future collaboration.
— MFA Maldives (@MDVForeign) March 17, 2019
Minister @SushmaSwaraj and Minister Shahid hold bilateral talks, and agree on a broad spectrum of issues for further collaboration, including development cooperation, and enhancing people-to-people contact.@MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/2bWsLPyZX9
Both Maldives and India have said that Swaraj’s visit will further strengthen the bilateral ties between both countries.
The minister will also meet with parliament Speaker Qasim Ibrahim on Sunday, and visit Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH)- gifted by the Indian government in 1995- in capital Malé City.
She will call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Monday, before concluding her visit to Maldives.
