Foreign Minister of Maldives Abdullah Shahid on Saturday took to Twitter to confirm that the President of the Republic of Maldives – Ibrahim Mohamed Solih – will confer Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Maldives highest honour accorded to foreign dignitaries.
President @ibusolih has announced his decision to confer on PM of India H.E. @narendramodi the Maldives highest honour accorded to foreign dignitaries, “The Most Honourable Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen” during PM’s visit today. Namaskar, Swagatham ?
— Abdulla Shahid ? (@abdulla_shahid) June 8, 2019
After since becoming prime minister for his second term, Modi has begun his first foreign official visit, starting of with visit to the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
“These visits indicate the importance we attach to the policy of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and will further cement ties with key maritime neighbours,” PM Modi tweeted ahead of his visit.
During his visit to the Maldives, PM Modi will address the Maldivian Parliament. He will also meet President Ibrahim Solih, following which a number of agreements are expected to be signed including budgetary support by India for development projects in Maldives.
Both PM Modi and the Maldivian President will jointly inaugurate two defence projects – a coastal surveillance radar system and composite training centre for the Maldives National Defence Forces or MNDF.
