President’s Office has revealed that Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh has extended an official invitation to President Abdulla Yameen to make India his first official overseas destination as the new head of the government.
Both former presidents Mohamed Nasheed and Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik also chose India as their first overseas visits, also in response to invitations from Dr Singh during his premiership.
President’s Office Spokesperson Ibrahim Muaz Ali said today that Dr Singh’s invitation follows president Yameen’s reply to the Prime Minister’s congratulatory message on 20 November. President Yameen was inaugurated as president on 17 November 2013.
In his response to the congratulatory message, President Yameen invited Prime Minister Singh to an official visit to the Maldives at the earliest convenience and assured the Prime Minister that maintaining a good relationship with India is a priority of the new government.
“I take this opportunity to assure you that I prioritize relations with India, and I am keen on finding ways to enhance the longstanding close friendly ties between our two countries,” President Yameen said in his letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.