Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid has departed on an official visit to Delhi, India on Wednesday afternoon.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that FM Shahid departed from Velana International Airport (VIA) a little past 3pm on Wednesday and that he is scheduled to conclude is one-day trip to India and return on April 16.

During his official visit, the foreign minister will be meeting with the External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar where the pair will engage in discussions relating to bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The foreign minister's trip was scheduled with an aim to strengthen ties and enhance the long-standing partnership between the neighboring countries.

Discussions will also revolve around the development projects funded by India, currently ongoing in the Maldives.

FM Shahid will also be calling on some of the non-resident ambassadors accredited to the Maldives in Delhi, during his visit.

During a visit to the Maldives in February this year, the Indian Minister had stated that the biggest achievements in the relationship between India and Maldives is the trust and strong bonds established over the years, adding that the spirit of friendship between the two countries had grown significantly stronger as a result of mutual aid and understanding amid times of crisis.

Jaishankar's visit in February was the second time he visited the Maldives in a formal capacity since assuming office in May 2019. Minister Jaishankar first made an official visit to the Maldives to participate in the 4th Indian Ocean Conference in September 2019.