External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj with her Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid in Male on Sunday.PTI  

India and the Maldives on Sunday discussed measures to strengthen ties and agreed to collaborate in the fields of defence, development cooperation, capacity building and health as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held talks with the country’s top leadership, including her Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid.

Ms. Swaraj arrived here on Sunday on a two-day visit, the first full-fledged bilateral trip from India to the island nation after the government of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih came to power in November last year. Ms. Swaraj and Maldivian Foreign Minister Shahid reviewed progress on important bilateral issues, including implementation of agreed outcomes of President Solih’s visit to India last year, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Ms. Swaraj also called on the Speaker of the Parliament of Maldives, Qasim Ibrahim, and reiterated India’s commitment to supporting the country in its path of peace, development, prosperity and democracy.

She unveiled a plaque dedicating the renovated IGM Hospital to the people of Maldives in the city of Male. IGMH is the first and largest government health-care facility in the Maldives, built with Indian assistance.

Ms. Swaraj will call on President Solih on Monday.

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