India’s External Affairs Minister arrives in Maldives on official visit

Minister of External Affairs of India Dr. S. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (C) is greeted upon arrivals at the Velana International Airport by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives Abdulla Shahid (L) on February 20, 2021. (Photo/Foreign Affairs Ministry)

Minister of External Affairs of India Dr. S. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar arrived in Maldives on an official visit on Saturday afternoon.

He was received at Velana International Airport by his Maldivian counterpart – Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel, Foreign Secretary Abdul Gafoor Mohamed, and Maldivian High Commissioner to India Dr. Hussain Niyaz.

Jaishankar arrived in Maldives at the invitation of Shahid.

Minister of External Affairs of India Dr. S. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (L) is greeted upon arrivals at the Velana International Airport by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives Abdulla Shahid (R) on February 20, 2021. (Photo/Foreign Affairs Ministry)

It marks his second official visit to Maldives, following his visit to attend the 5th Indian Ocean Conference back in 2019.

According to the Maldivian Foreign Ministry, Jaishankar, during his visit, will inaugurate some projects undertaken with Indian grant assistance and witness the exchange of several agreements and MoUs between the two countries.

He is also scheduled to call on Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Parliament Speaker and former President Mohamed Nasheed, and hold meetings with Shahid and Minister of Defense Mariya Ahmed Didi.

Minister of External Affairs of India Dr. S. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (C) is greeted upon arrivals at the Velana International Airport on February 20, 2021. (Photo/Foreign Affairs Ministry)

He will also take part in a joint meeting with Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer, Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail, and Minister of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Mohamed Aslam.