Maldives President Yameen Abdul Gayoom, who is in India on his first official foreign visit after winning the elections in November, met External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Thursday, and is reported to have discussed ways to strengthen economic relations and enhance bilateral ties between the two nations.
Earlier, Gayoom also met President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and was accorded a ceremonial reception on the forecourt of the ornate sandstone presidential palace on Thursday.
Gayoom and his wife were received at the airport on Wednesday by Minister of State for External Affairs Minister E. Ahamed and other Indian leaders.
Accompanied by a high level ministerial delegation, Gayoom will be in India till January 04 and is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on key bilateral and regional issues.
President Pranab Mukherjee will also hold a banquet in honour of his Maldivian counterpart.
Gayoom's visit would also reveal India's stand on offering assistance to Maldives and restart work on vital projects that were stalled.
In 2012, Maldives cancelled its biggest foreign investment project, a USD 511 million deal with Indian firm GMR Group to develop its international airport, raising questions over the future of foreign investment in the islands renowned for luxury resorts.
