New Delhi, Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth reached Delhi on Sunday morning to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi.
This is Muizzu's first visit to India after becoming the President of the island nation on November 17 last year.
Jugnauth and Muizzu are among the leaders of seven countries in India's neighborhood and the Indian Ocean region who are attending the swearing-in ceremony of Modi and his council of ministers at Rashtrapati Bhavan this evening.
"President of Maldives @MMuizzu was warmly welcomed in New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on 'X'.
He said, “India and Maldives are maritime partners and close neighbours.,
Bangladesh President Sheikh Hasina and Seychelles Vice President Ahmed Afif have already reached Delhi.
Apart from Muizzu, Jugnauth, Hasina and Afif, other leaders attending the ceremony are Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay.
New Delhi's invitation to Muizzu to attend the swearing-in ceremony is significant as it comes amid poor relations between India and Maldives.
On Saturday, Muizzu said he looked forward to working with Modi to further strengthen closer ties with India, adding that relations between the two countries were moving in a "positive direction".
Relations between India and Maldives came under severe strain after Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took charge of the top office.
Within hours of his oath, he had demanded withdrawal of Indian military personnel from his country. Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians earlier this month."The visit of the leaders to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the third consecutive term is in keeping with India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and the highest priority given to the 'SAGAR' approach," the ministry said. Foreign Ministry said.
India is cooperating with the countries of the Indian Ocean Region under the comprehensive policy framework of SAGAR or Security and Development for All in the Region.
Apart from attending the swearing-in ceremony, the foreign leader will also attend a banquet hosted by President Draupadi Murmu.
Leaders of the regional grouping SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries attended Modi's first swearing-in ceremony when he took the reins as Prime Minister following the BJP's massive election victory.
In 2019, when Modi became Prime Minister for the second consecutive time, leaders of BIMSTEC countries participated in his swearing-in ceremony.Although the BJP did not get a majority on its own in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the party-led alliance secured 293 out of 543 seats. The majority figure in the lower house is 272.
This is Muizzu's first visit to India after becoming the President of the island nation on November 17 last year.
Jugnauth and Muizzu are among the leaders of seven countries in India's neighborhood and the Indian Ocean region who are attending the swearing-in ceremony of Modi and his council of ministers at Rashtrapati Bhavan this evening.
"President of Maldives @MMuizzu was warmly welcomed in New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on 'X'.
He said, “India and Maldives are maritime partners and close neighbours.,
Bangladesh President Sheikh Hasina and Seychelles Vice President Ahmed Afif have already reached Delhi.
Apart from Muizzu, Jugnauth, Hasina and Afif, other leaders attending the ceremony are Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay.
New Delhi's invitation to Muizzu to attend the swearing-in ceremony is significant as it comes amid poor relations between India and Maldives.
On Saturday, Muizzu said he looked forward to working with Modi to further strengthen closer ties with India, adding that relations between the two countries were moving in a "positive direction".
Relations between India and Maldives came under severe strain after Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took charge of the top office.
Within hours of his oath, he had demanded withdrawal of Indian military personnel from his country. Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians earlier this month."The visit of the leaders to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the third consecutive term is in keeping with India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and the highest priority given to the 'SAGAR' approach," the ministry said. Foreign Ministry said.
India is cooperating with the countries of the Indian Ocean Region under the comprehensive policy framework of SAGAR or Security and Development for All in the Region.
Apart from attending the swearing-in ceremony, the foreign leader will also attend a banquet hosted by President Draupadi Murmu.
Leaders of the regional grouping SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries attended Modi's first swearing-in ceremony when he took the reins as Prime Minister following the BJP's massive election victory.
In 2019, when Modi became Prime Minister for the second consecutive time, leaders of BIMSTEC countries participated in his swearing-in ceremony.Although the BJP did not get a majority on its own in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the party-led alliance secured 293 out of 543 seats. The majority figure in the lower house is 272.
