Union Minister S. Jaishankar held a bilateral meeting with Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu
New Delhi:
Union Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday held separate bilateral meetings with Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Mr Muizzu, Ms Hasina and Mr Wickremesinghe were among seven leaders from India’s neighbors and the Indian Ocean region who attended the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Council of Ministers on Sunday.
“I am pleased that today in New Delhi we can visit Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. I look forward to India and Maldives working closely together,” Mr Jaishankar said of ‘X’.
I am happy to visit President Dr. in New Delhi today. Mohamed Muizzu from the Maldives.
I look forward to India and the Maldives working closely together. @MMuizzu
🇮🇳 🇲🇻 pic.twitter.com/odHJPRK4Ks—Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) June 10, 2024
Mr. Jaishankar was Minister of State in Prime Minister Modi’s previous cabinet. He took oath as Union minister on Sunday.
It was Muizzu’s first visit to India after becoming the island’s president on November 17 last year.
Ties between India and the Maldives have come under severe strain since Mr Muizzu, known for his pro-China views, took charge of the top office.
Within hours of taking oath, he had demanded the withdrawal of Indian soldiers from his country. The Indian soldiers were replaced by civilians earlier this month.
After meeting Ms Hasina, Mr Jaishankar said: “It is an honor to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh today. The India-Bangladesh Maitri continues to make progress.”
During his meeting with Mr Wickremesinghe, Mr Jaishankar said: “I appreciate President Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka for welcoming me this morning in New Delhi. He acknowledged the steady progress in India-Sri Lanka relations.”
Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay and Seychelles Vice President Ahmed Afif also attended Prime Minister Modi’s swearing-in ceremony.
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