Modi in Maldives HIGHLIGHTS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Maldives’ highest honour by President Ibrahim Solih on Saturday. (Twitter/@PIB_India)
PM Narendra Modi in Maldives HIGHLIGHTS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday was conferred with the Maldives’ highest honour “Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen” during his first bilateral visit to the island nation in the second term. The Prime Minister held wide-ranging talks with Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and signed six agreements to strengthen bilateral ties in a number of key areas including defence and maritime. Upon his arrival this evening, Modi was greeted at Male airport by Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid and also received a ceremonial welcome by President Solih at Republic Square.
Modi, along with President Solih, will jointly inaugurate two key projects – the Coastal Surveillance Radar System and the Composite Training Centre of the Maldives National Defence Forces – with an eye on China’s pro-active moves in the Indian Ocean region. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale had described the two as “important projects”, valued at about Rs 180 crore, which will be remotely inaugurated by the two leaders.
Besides this, Modi will travel to Sri Lanka later in the day where he will review the progress on a key trilateral MoU which India, Japan and Sri Lanka have signed – the development of the East Container Terminal in Colombo, located just about 3 km away from the China-supported “port city”, which is being built on reclaimed land.
Modi in Maldives LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi accompanied by Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam, State Devasom Minister Kadakampally Surendran along with other senior BJP leaders, arrives to offer his prayers at Lord Krishna temple in Guruvayur of Thrissur district on Saturday. (PTI)
India will contribute to the conservation of one of the Maldives' oldest and iconic Friday Mosque, a historic landmark made up of coral stones, PM Modi assured. "There is no such mosque elsewhere in the world like this historical mosque made up of coral," Modi said, adding that he was happy that the Maldives was working towards sustainable development and has become a part of the International Solar Alliance.
President Solih thanked the Indian side for providing capacity building support to Maldivian security forces. The two leaders also agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean Region, and to strengthen coordination in enhancing maritime security in the region, through coordinated patrolling and aerial surveillance, exchange of information, and capacity building.
"Terrorism is a danger not just for a country or region but an entire civilization. State-sponsored terrorism is the biggest threat today. It is time for a global conference on terrorism," Modi said.
"It is a happy day for all Maldivians. A great and dear friend of ours PM Narendra Modi is visiting these shores. It is my great honour to welcome the PM to the Maldives, his first visit overseas since assuming office for a second term," Maldives President Solih posted on Twitter.
"I am happy that Maldives is working towards sustainable development and has become a part of the International Solar Alliance. I felt great to have announced today that India will contribute in the conservation of Maldives' Friday Mosque. There's no such mosque elsewhere in the world like this historical mosque made up of coral," Modi said.
"Terrorism is a danger not just for a country but the entire civilization. State-sponsored terrorism is the biggest threat today. It is important for the world community to come together to fight the challenge of terrorism and radicalization," PM Modi said.
"I want to reiterate that the people of India are with the people of Maldives to strengthen their (latter's) country," PM Modi said.
"I'm very happy to be present at People’s Majlis today. This decision to invite me was taken in the very first meeting after Mohamed Nasheed became Maldives' Parliamentary Speaker. This gesture has touched the hearts of every Indian," Modi said.
"It is an honour to be among all of you during your first session ever since former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed was elected as Parliament Speaker," PM Modi said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the People’s Majlis, the Parliament of Maldives.
Modi also met Maldives Vice-President Faisal Naseem.
"By issuing RuPay Card in Maldives, there will be an increase in the number of Indian tourists in Maldives. We will soon take measures in this direction. Also, there have been discussions over making the defense services stronger in Maldives," Modi said.
"India gives utmost importance to its relationship with Maldives. We want to have a strong partnership with each other. India is willing to help Maldives in every way possible. May the friendship between India and Maldives last forever," PM Modi said.
"In order to strengthen the ties between the two nations, India has decided to focus on schemes that will benefit the locals of Maldives," PM Modi said.
Ferry services between Kochi and Male will soon begin, says PM Modi.
"I have been conferred with Maldives' highest honour, I humbly accept this it. It is not just an honour conferred upon me but it is respect given to the friendship and relations between our two countries," PM Modi said.
"India has always stood by the Maldives. I thank the Maldives government for its hospitality. The people of both nations want stability and development," PM Modi said.
PM Modi is now addressing a joint meeting with President Solih.
Maldives President Solih conferred upon PM Modi the island nation's highest honour “Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen”.
MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted, "Mutually beneficial partnership. Warm discussions marked the meeting between PM Modi and President of Maldives Solih. Focus on further deepening our special relationship by expanding cooperation across sectors."
India is helping in training Maldivian cricket players and bringing it up to the requisite standard, the External Affairs Ministry said in New Delhi on Thursday. India is also looking into constructing a stadium in the Island nation which is another request made by it, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said. He said the ministry is working with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to train Maldivian cricketers. "A team from the BCCI visited the Maldives earlier in May for the training of Maldivian cricketers, organising coaching programmes and supply of kits," he said.
Modi also took gifted Solih a cricket bat during the meeting. "Connected by cricket! My friend, President Ibrahim Solih is an ardent cricket fan, so I presented him a cricket bat that has been signed by #TeamIndia playing at the #CWC19," he tweeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently holding a meeting with Maldives President Ibrahim Solih in Male. (Twitter/@PIB_India)
Modi was received by President Solih this evening.
Besides the dignitaries, Modi also received a warm welcome by the Indian community in the Maldives today.
China views the Maldives as key to its Maritime Silk Road project in the Indian Ocean as it has already acquired Hambantota port in Sri Lanka and Djibouti in the Horn of Africa.
PM Modi held a meeting with President Solih in Male today.
Modi is also expected to hold separate discussions with Foreign Minister Shahid and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. His visit demonstrates the priority that India attaches to the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine, sources told PTI.
To assist the Maldives in its development and revival of its economy, a slew of Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) are expected to be signed, including budgetary support for development projects, extending the Line of Credit for projects like water supply and sewerage, high impact community development projects, customs and white shipping, official sources told PTI. Giving a push to enhance connectivity, India is planning to start a ferry service from Kochi to the Maldives, the sources said. To consolidate people-to-people relations, Modi's latest emphasis is on cricket diplomacy in the island nation, helping the mission of President Solih to develop cricket, they said.
During the visit, the Prime Minister will address the Maldivian Parliament, the Majlis, an indication of India's important position in the neighbourhood. He is expected to meet the top leadership of the Maldives to strengthen the relationship at the highest level.
"Reached the Republic of Maldives. This visit indicates the importance India attaches to strong ties with the Republic of Maldives and the desire to boost cooperation in various spheres," Modi tweeted.
Prior to leaving for Maldives, Modi offered prayers at Sree Krishna Temple in Guruvayur in Kerala's Thrissur. In his first public engagement after the Lok Sabha elections, Modi said that he made Kerala his first stop despite having no MP from the state as Kerala was as dear to him as his constituency Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. “I come to Kerala with a deep sense of gratitude to the people,” the Prime Minster said, adding “Yes, our party did not win a seat here but I will serve the state with great vigour and deepen the bond with its wonderful citizens.” Click here to read more.
PM Modi's first visit abroad in his second term to Maldives and Sri Lanka is being billed as the reaffirmation of Delhi’s traditional diplomatic emphasis on “neighbourhood first”. Hopefully, it is a little more than that — an effort to redefine what our neighbourhood is. The visit to Male and Colombo offers the opportunity to firmly place the Indian Ocean island states into India’s regional geography, writes C. Raja Mohan, Director of Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore, and the consulting editor on foreign affairs for The Indian Express. Read the full piece here.
Taking to Twitter, Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid said, "Great Honour to receive PM Shri Narendra Modi at Velana International Airport on his first State Visit overseas after taking oath for a second term. No doubt, this will be a momentous visit that would elevate Maldives-India relationship to new heights."
Before the visits, PM Modi had said: “I am confident that my visit to the Maldives and Sri Lanka will further strengthen our close and cordial ties with our maritime neighbours, in line with our ‘Neighbourhood-First Policy’.”
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale had earlier said, “I don’t think we should see our cooperation with any country in our region as necessarily having some ulterior motive or being directed against another country or being part of some grand strategy. I think our objective is that infrastructure development in our region benefits our economy and the economy of that country.”
Ahead of his first visits since winning a second term, PM Modi on Friday stressed on “maritime neighbours” and said the visit will strengthen close ties with both countries. This is the most clear indication of the importance attached to the visit, in the backdrop of Beijing’s moves in the neighbourhood.
With an eye on China’s pro-active moves in the Indian Ocean region, India will strengthen defence partnerships with at least two key projects in the Maldives. PM Modi and Maldives President Ibrahim Solih will jointly inaugurate two projects – the Coastal Surveillance Radar System and the Composite Training Centre of the Maldives National Defence Forces. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale described the two as “important projects”, valued at about Rs 180 crore, which will be remotely inaugurated by the two leaders. This is part of weaning away Maldives from Beijing, as China has made deep inroads into the Maldivian establishment during the Abdulla Yameen regime.
The Prime Minister had visited the Maldives in November last year to attend President Solih's swearing-in ceremony. The relations between India and the Maldives deteriorated after the then President Abdulla Yameen imposed emergency on February 5 last year. However, ties were back on track under Solih's presidency.
During his visit to the Maldives, PM Modi will be conferred with the island nation's highest honour "Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen", Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid announced today. Taking to Twitter, Shahid said, "President Ibrahim Solih has announced his decision to confer on PM of India H.E. Narendra Modi the Maldives highest honour accorded to foreign dignitaries, 'The Most Honourable Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen' during PM's visit today. Namaskar, Swagatham."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today set off for his two-day visit to the Maldives and Sri Lanka. This is the Prime Minister's first bilateral visit to the island nation in the second term. Follow our live blog for all the latest updates.