The Prime Minister made the remarks during a banquet hosted in his honour by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu in Male
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India has always stood by the Maldives in its development journey, especially in areas like infrastructure and capacity building.
The Prime Minister made the remarks during a banquet hosted in his honour by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu in Male, where he is currently on a state visit.
“We are both partners of the Global South. Whether it is Infrastructure or Capacity Building, India has been a true partner and companion at every turn of Maldives’ development journey. Now we should move forward on trade, security, and sustainable development,” PM Modi said.
He reaffirmed the strong ties between the two nations, saying the island nation holds a “special place” in India’s Neighbourhood First policy.
“India-Maldives relations are centuries-old. We are neighbours, partners and true friends who stand together in times of need. Like I said earlier too, Maldives holds a special place in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy…This is not just diplomacy but a relation of deep affinity,” PM Modi added.
The Prime Minister also underlined the importance of taking the partnership forward in key areas such as trade, security, and sustainable development. “We should now move ahead in strengthening cooperation in trade, security, and sustainable development,” he added.
“This year, the 60th anniversary of India-Maldives relations are also being celebrated. This happy coincidence (60th Independence Day of Maldives and 60th anniversary of India-Maldives relations) has made my Visit even more special,” he said.
Additionally, PM Modi celebrated the shared heritage between the two nations, saying, “Our shared heritage is as old as the Monsoon and as sweet as Addu Bondi. Our languages reflect the depth of our culture. The roots of the Mahal language of Dhivehi and Minicoy are similar. Several words in Dhivehi have come from India…Our tastes are also similar…Absolutely perfect despite being different.”
