By IANS,
Male : India has assured the Maldives of stronger ties between both countries, the Maldivian government said Wednesday.
India’s newly appointed high commissioner to the Maldives, Rajeev Shahare gave this assurance after presenting his credentials to Maldivian President Mohamed Waheed, Xinhua reported.
At a ceremony held at the president’s office Wednesday, Waheed congratulated the new Indian envoy and welcomed him to the Maldives.
The president and the Indian high commissioner later discussed bilateral relations.
Shahare reassured Waheed that relations between the countries would continue to flourish, and that it was his highest priority to further strengthen the relationship, a Maldives government statement said.
Ties between India and the Maldives went to an all-time low, after Male terminated a contract given to India to modernise the Maldives international airport.
The Maldives and India were also at loggerheads after former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed sought refuge at the Indian High Commission in Male in February at a time when there was an arrest warrant against him.
The Indian government refused to force Nasheed to leave the High Commission premises. The Maldivian government protested and summoned the then Indian high commissioner and raised concerns over the move.