The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives H.E Mr. Abdulla Shahid has arrived on an official visit to India yesterday morning. The Minister was received at Indira Gandhi International Airport by Mr. Amit Narang, Joint Secretary (IOR), Ministry of External Affairs.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives is visiting India to attend the 6th India - Maldives Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) scheduled to be held on 13 December 2019. A delegation comprised of various agencies dealing with the thematic areas being reviewed at the JCM, is also accompanying the Minister.

Later on the day, Foreign Secretary of India His Excellency Vijay Gokhale, greeted His Excellency Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives, as well.

During the meeting, the Minister and the Foreign Secretary reviewed the ongoing projects and spoke on ways in the implementation of the projects could be expedited.

Foreign Secretary welcomed Minister to Delhi, and conveyed details regarding the upcoming Joint Commission Meeting. So Minister Shahid expresses d appreciation to the Indian Government for the continued efforts and assistance provided and assured his commitment to increasing cooperation between the two countries in various areas that are of mutual benefit.

The Maldives - India Joint Commission was established under the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation signed between the two countries in 1986, with the primary aim of improving bilateral relations in all spheres. The last session of the JCM was held in 2015, in Male.