Friendship will continue… India said a big thing regarding relations with Maldives

New Delhi: India said on Monday that its friendly relations with Maldives will continue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Mohammad Muizzu presented a blueprint for comprehensive economic and maritime cooperation. This is a sign of improvement in relations between the two countries after some sourness last year. Modi and Muizzu reviewed bilateral relations and agreed to a currency swap agreement. Under this, India will provide assistance of 400 million dollars to Maldives. It will also provide additional assistance of Rs 3,000 crore.

Muizzu thanked the Government of India

After talks with Prime Minister Modi at Hyderabad House, Muizzu said, ‘I am grateful to the Government of India for providing assistance in the form of Rs 30 billion (Rs 3,000 crore) in addition to the bilateral currency swap agreement of $400 million. This will be helpful in resolving foreign exchange related issues.

Both leaders issued RuPay cards in Maldives

PM Modi said, ‘We have adopted a comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership to add a strategic dimension to bilateral relations.’ Both the leaders released RuPay cards in Maldives. Apart from this, digitally inaugurated the new runway at Hanimadhu International Airport and agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations.

Last year the relations between the two countries turned sour

Let us tell you that last year the relations between the two countries had soured. Modi said, ‘In the coming time, we will work towards connecting India and Maldives through UPI (Unified Payment Interface).’ Earlier, President Draupadi Murmu formally welcomed Muizzu, who was on a five-day state visit, at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday. Prime Minister Modi was also present on this occasion.

Muizzu will also visit Agra and Mumbai

The President of Maldives will return to Male on Thursday. Before that, we will go to Agra and Mumbai on Tuesday. Will go to Bengaluru on Wednesday. Muizzu had won the presidential election last year and had asked India to withdraw its military personnel deployed there by May this year. Bilateral relations between the two countries suffered a setback when Maldivian ministers made critical comments about Modi.

‘Friendship will continue’

However, Muizzu softened his/her anti-India stance by dismissing those ministers. When Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was asked how India was successful in removing the sourness in bilateral relations last year, he/she said, ‘The friendship will continue.’ The Foreign Secretary said that relations between India and Maldives are based on several important pillars. Misri said, ‘Our effort in this visit is to further deepen this already strong relationship and to pursue many common interests. Today both the leaders recognized the importance of this relationship.

(With agency inputs)