1. The Foreign Minister of Republic of Maldives H.E. Abdulla Shahid paid an Official visit to India from 24-27 November 2018. He was accompanied by H.E. Ibrahim Ameer, the Minister of Finance, H.E. Fayyaz Ismail, the Minister of Economic Development, H.E.
Ahmed Khaleel, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and H.E. Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed, Foreign Secretary.
2. He held bilateral consultations with Smt. Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister on 26 November 2018. He will call on Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister the same day. He will call on Hon’ble Rashtrapatiji on 27 November 2018. CII will host a business
interaction meeting for the Minister and his delegation.
3. The Foreign Ministers agreed that State Visit of President Solih to India will take place on December 17, 2018. In this regard, both Ministers held wide consultations to lay the groundwork for this visit.
4. EAM reiterated that India attaches highest importance to its relationship with the Maldives which is marked by trust, transparency, mutual understanding and sensitivity. She said that that in line with Government of India’s Neighbourhood First policy, India
stands ready to fully support the Government of Maldives in its socio-economic development.
5. FM Abdulla Shahid reiterated his Government’s "India First” policy and said that his government looks forward to working closely with the government of India on all issues. He reaffirmed Maldives’ special, close and friendly relations with India. Minister
Abdulla also reiterated that the government of Maldives will be sensitive towards India’s security and strategic concerns.
6. EAM welcomed Maldives’ decision to rejoin the Commonwealth and expressed India’s support for it. She also welcomed Maldives into the Indian Ocean Rim Association as its newest member.
7. Both sides held discussions on how to strengthen the development partnership between both countries. India assured the Maldives of support in implementing its development priorities and in ensuring fiscal and budgetary stability.
8. The Ministers recognized that, given the historical and cultural links between both countries, people-to-people contact between both countries was important. In this regard, they agreed to hold the meeting of the bilateral Consular Dialogue at the earliest.
9. The Ministers discussed security and defence matters including ongoing projects and new areas of cooperation. In this regard, they agreed to hold the next meeting of the Defence Cooperation Dialogue between both countries in the first half of December 2018.
10. They also discussed ways and means to expand and diversify the bilateral economic and commercial relations. In this regard, they agreed that the private sector needs to be encouraged to play a leading role.
11. Maldivian FM invited EAM to pay a bilateral visit to the Maldives which she agreed. They also decided to hold the next meeting of the Joint Commission at the level of Foreign Ministers at the earliest.
New Delhi
November 26, 2018