'You've made history, minister': For S Jaishankar, message from the Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid

Source : Hindustan Times

External affairs minister S Jaishankar with his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid.

Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shahid on Saturday highlighted that his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar made history by holding official talks out of the capital city Male’. Jaishankar met Shahid in Addu city where the two sides signed agreements and reviewed the bilateral development partnership and cooperation in areas ranging from security to tourism. 

“You’ve made history, Minister @DrSJaishankar!” Abdullah Shahid wrote on Twitter. “This is the first time official talks have been held out of the Capital City Male’.” 

You’ve made history, Minister @DrSJaishankar!

This is the first time official talks have been held out of the Capital City Male’.

Fortifying & building on the long-standing 🇲🇻- 🇮🇳 ties is one of the top foreign policy priorities of President Solih’s administration. pic.twitter.com/yYHcyrKFj2

— Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) March 26, 2022

Shahid said that the Maldives welcomes India’s “Neighborhood First Policy” and remains committed to its “India First Policy”. He added that India-Maldives relations have “stood the test of time, and one that will continue to flourish.” 

The Maldives welcomes India’s “Neighborhood First Policy” under which we have gained immense socio-economic benefits. And we remain committed to our “India First Policy”.

Our relationship is one that has stood the test of time, and one that will continue to flourish.

— Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) March 26, 2022

“I thank India for the assistance it has provided throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. We remain grateful that we can always rely on #India during times of need. Both our countries have experienced the hardships and tragedies of the pandemic, but we are emerging stronger together,” the Maldives foreign minister tweeted. 

I thank the Government and the people of India, for standing in solidarity with us, and for being our friend and partner throughout the years.

May the close bonds between our two countries continue to grow deeper and stronger.

— Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) March 26, 2022

Jaishankar is in the Maldives for a two-day visit after he got an invite from his Maldivian counterpart. 

The two countries signed agreements for the mutual recognition of Covid-19 vaccination certificates and for connectivity between the Higher Education Network of the Maldives and the National Knowledge Network of India. 

"Our time-tested relationship is today poised for a quantum jump. We are touching the lives of our people like we have done never before. We are partners in development, we are promoting peace and security, and our relationship, in many ways, serves as a model for the region," Jaishankar said.

Our time-tested relationship is poised for a quantum jump to touch the lives of our people like never before.

It is a force for stability in the region.

It is our shared responsibility to nurture and strengthen it.

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 26, 2022