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Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs, meets with Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid & nbsp | & nbspPhoto Photo: & nbspIANS
New Delhi: The former Maldivian President, Abdulla Yameen, tried to play India and China against each other , but the new government of Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has a "strong policy in India first" and has not shown interest. Algerian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid said on Tuesday when he told him that his country was the closest and most reliable friend of the Maldives, but that the new government of the island nation was ready to build relationships with other countries, including China. .
"During his five years in power, President Yameen tried to play China against India and China against India, and he thought he could become a puppet master. Big Asian countries could be his puppets. "He failed miserably," said Shahid at a press conference in Delhi.
"Our government will not try to play one country against another.We have a strong policy, focused on India first, but we will also engage with all the leaders of the country. We will be ready to do business with them, "he said.
"Our message is very clear: India is our friend and closest and most reliable neighbor.We are determined to renew friendship and Indo-Maldives relations, to explore new horizons, while strengthening existing links, "he said.
Shahid, along with Maldives Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer and Economic Development Minister Fayyaz Ismail, paid a two-day visit to India to discuss various issues, including economic, social and environmental cooperation. defense. The new government took over the Island Island last week.
Shahid said the Maldives were looking for help from India immediately. on the budget constraints they faced. "We have received very positive feedback from India … India has badured us that they will help us maintain and stabilize the budget, and the modalities of the same are being developed.
"We also envisage India playing a leading role in projects related to the diversification of our economy. We want to engage with the Indian business community in developing its economy, "he said.
During the visit, the Maldives reiterated their commitment to the 1979 agreement on He also badured India that the blocked projects between the two countries would go forward.
"We also reaffirm our commitment to peace and security. of the security of the Indian Ocean and its neighborhood. We are committed to ensuring the safety and security of the Indian Ocean, and "working with India to fight terrorism in all its forms," said Shahid.
About the Maldives reviewing agreements with China, Shahid said many of these deals were pbaded in secret and were under review. see China as a friend. "The free trade agreement (with China) was hastily adopted by Parliament … As Foreign Minister, I asked my officials to review the document. will comment publicly once the review is completed. "
"China has been generous to us, they have helped us in many projects and the country has benefited in the past 50 years thanks to the generosity of China, one of the largest economies in the world and we do not China is a friend, "he added.
The minister said that the visit of the delegation would be followed by the visit of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to India on December 17, "in the hope that such high-level exchanges would continue between the two countries".
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