Sushma Swaraj to leave on a two-day visit to Male today

Male: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will leave on a two-day visit to Male today. During her visit, she along with her Maldivian counterpart Dunya Maumoon will co-chair meeting of the India-Maldives Joint Commission. Mrs. Swaraj will also call on President Abdulla Yameen and hold talks with the Ministers of Defence, Economic Development, and Health in the Maldivian capital.

The Joint Commission, which has been reactivated after almost 15 years, is a very important mechanism to review the multifaceted relationship between India and the Maldives. Talks are expected to give directions for enhancing trade and investment ties,



meet developmental objectives in Maldives, deepen cooperation in health care, energy collaboration and human resource development, defence and security.

In reply to a question on the release of the former President of the Maldives Mohammed Nasheed, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said, as the world’s largest democracy, India has always supported political pluralism and democracy in the Maldives and is committed to peace, stability and progress in the Maldives. He said, this issue is expected to be handled in accordance with laws and rules of Maldives, and hope that the outcome will be seen by everybody as being fair and just.