Maldives President Muizzu accorded ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan
New Delhi: Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu was accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the Maldivian President and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed as they arrived at Rashtrapati Bhavan earlier today.
President Muizzu, along with First Lady Sajida Mohamed paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi as well. After paying tribute at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial, Muizzu also signed the visitors' book at Rajghat.
Muizzu, who is on an inaugural five-dday bilateral visit to India, is slated to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi at Hyderabad House in the national capital later today.
President Muizzu along with the First Lady of Maldives arrived in India on Sunday, for his first bilateral visit to the country.
He was welcomed by Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Kiriti Vardhan Singh. Muizzu's visit to India is on an official invitation by President Droupadi Murmu.
Muizzu also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday here in the national capital.
"Jaishankar expressed his pleasure in welcoming the President to India, for the state visit. President Dr Muizzu conveyed his gratitude to the Indian government for the warm welcome extended to him and his delegation upon arrival," according to the press release from the President's Office of Maldives.
At the meeting, Jaishankar and Muizzu spoke extensively on fostering and maintaining good ties between the two countries, Maldives Foreign Ministry said in a release.
The two sides reviewed the progress of current initiatives supported by the Government of India and discussed exploring additional avenues that both countries see as mutual benefits in line with the current development priorities of the Maldives.
The Maldivian President, along with First Lady Sajidha Mohamed, interacted with the Maldivian community residing in New Delhi as well.
During the interaction, they inquired about the community's well-being, listened to their concerns and challenges, and reaffirmed the administration's dedication to addressing the issues.
This is Muizzu's second visit to India this year after attending the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this June.