India’s Chief of Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, called on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Wednesday.

While the meeting was held on Wednesday morning at the President’s Office, President Solih extended a warm welcome to the Indian senior official.

The president’s office said that the discussions at the meeting were focused "on areas for further cooperation and addressed issues of common significance.”

Also at the meeting, Solih highlighted “the warmth and affection” between Maldives and India, adding that the closeness between both nations was reaffirmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the archipelago nation.

He also highlighted that joint efforts by both nation “to address terrorism and maritime security concerns in the Indian Ocean regions.”

President Solih further thanked the Indian government for its “continued mutually beneficial assistance, especially in the areas of defence and security.”

General Rawat described the Maldives as “the heart” of the Indian Ocean.

Rawat arrived in the Maldives on Sunday, on a six-day official visit. He has met with a number of senior government officials since, including Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdulla Shamaal, Defence Minister Mariya Didi and Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid.

General Rawat took office as the Chief of the Army Staff in December 2016, following the retirement of General Dalbir Singh Suhag. There are reports that Rawat will also retire at the end of 2019.

He was appointed Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) on Friday.

While Maldives and India’s relationship had soured during former President Abdulla Yameen’s five-year rule, it has improved vastly since the new administration took over in November 2018.