The Minister of the Earth Sciences of India, Kiren Rijiju, paid a courtesy call on the outgoing President of the Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

The meeting was held at the President’s Office, on Thursday.

During the meeting, President Solih extended a warm welcome to Minister Rijiju and requested that he relay his greetings and best wishes to the President of India Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the people of India.

The President's Office disclosed that the conversation between President Solih and Minister Rijiju underlined the two countries' long-standing bilateral ties.

As such, President Solih highlighted that India has been a vital and close ally, crediting the Maldives' tremendous development to India's 'Neighborhood First' policy. He highlighted the consistent increase in Indian tourist arrivals, frequency of flight arrivals, and expansion of flight destinations to various Indian cities as a testament to India’s unwavering support and leadership.

Additionally, President Solih expressed his gratitude to the Indian government for their significant assistance in various forms in navigating the difficult times of COVID-19, stating that India proved to be the Maldives’ closest partner in times of critical need.

Furthermore, the Indian Minister expressed profound gratitude for the substantial support and cooperation extended by the Maldivian government. The meeting concluded with President Solih and Minister Rijiju reiterating their shared determination to bolster bilateral relations through increased cooperation and people-to-people contact between the Maldives and India.