India visit symbolises positive direction of ties: Maldives pres

President Mohamed Muizzu has said that his visit to India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of prime minister Narendra Modi for a third consecutive term shows that the relationship between the two countries is moving in a positive direction.

Muizzu has accepted the invitation to attend Modi’s swearing-in ceremony. The President will leave for India on Saturday evening to attend the ceremony.

This is President Muizzu's first visit to India since taking office.

Indian Ambassador to Maldives Munu Mahawar handed over the official letter inviting Muizzu to the swearing-in ceremony.

During the meeting, the Ambassador said that Modi had asked President Muizzu to attend the important ceremony of his swearing in for a third term.

In response, the President said it was an honour for him to attend this historic swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister of India.

The President thanked him for the invitation.

The President expressed his desire to further strengthen the close friendly relations between the two countries and said the visit officially confirms that the relations between the two countries are moving in the right direction.

Under India's Neighborhood First policy, special invitations to the Prime Minister's swearing-in ceremony have been sent to the heads of state of India's neighbouring countries as well as the heads of state of the Indian Ocean region.

According to the external affairs ministry's website, apart from President Muizzu, other presidents invited to atten Modi’s third swearing-in ceremony are:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be sworn in on Sunday. After the ceremony, the heads of state will attend an official banquet hosted by Indian President Droupadi Murmu.