Enhancing mutual ties in 6th Joint Commission Meeting, India and Maldives strengthen bilateral relation

New Delhi, December 13: Boosting relation with Maldivians and reconnecting the bilateral ties, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar co-chaired the sixth Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) with his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid in New Delhi on Friday. The JCM between the two countries is taking place after a gap of four years and would oversee and review their entire gamut of vast and expanding bilateral relationship.

 

The two Ministers reviewed progress achieved in implementing the vast and ambitious agenda of bilateral cooperation agreed between the two countries. A joint press statement issued after the meeting said the discussions were held in a friendly atmosphere reflective of the close and neighbourly ties between India and Maldives. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih have met on four occasions in the past year illustrating the highest importance both India and Maldives attach to the bilateral relationship.

Both sides noted that India’s Neighbourhood First policy and Maldives’ India First policy were working in tandem to further strengthen a dynamic, multifaceted and mutually beneficial partnership. Ongoing cooperation in security and defence partnership was reviewed. Both Ministers emphasized the nurturing of a strong bilateral partnership in the maritime domain.

The JCM endorsed the enhancement of trade, investment and economic cooperation including through the fostering of business linkages between India and Maldives. The two sides agreed to expedite work on the construction of a state-of-the-art Cancer hospital in Hulhumale. The meeting also welcomed the exchange of Instrument of Ratification of Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and signing of the MoUs between the Financial Intelligence Units of India and Maldives, and between the Election Commission of India and the Elections Commission of Maldives.

The visit has come days after India handed over patrol vessel "KAAMIYAAB" to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) in an event which also saw the inauguration of four key developmental projects in the archipelago covering a wide range of sectors.