EAM S Jaishankar to visit Maldives & Mauritius

External affairs minister S Jaishankar will visit to the Maldives and Mauritius this week to review bilateral ties and development cooperation; especially measures aimed at helping the Indian Ocean states overcome the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

MEA said Mr. Jaishankar will visit the Maldives from February 20 to 21 and he will be in Mauritius on February 22 and 23.

"The External Affairs Minister's visit is testimony to the importance that India attaches to its close and friendly relations with the Maldives and Mauritius and is expected to lend further momentum to substantive cooperation and robust people-to-people ties," the MEA said.

In the Maldives, Mr. Jaishankar will call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and have substantive discussions with the ministers for foreign affairs, defence, finance, economic development and planning and infrastructure, the MEA statement.

"During this visit, EAM will review the entire gamut of our bilateral ties as well as the progress of ongoing bilateral projects and hold discussions on the ongoing COVID situation, including India's continued assistance to the Maldives for its post-COVID economic recovery," the MEA said.

In Mauritius, Jaishankar will call on President Prithvirajsing Roopun and Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth.

He will also meet the minister of foreign affairs, regional integration and international trade and minister for land transport and light rail.

"The EAM will review all aspects of our bilateral relations, ongoing implementation of various infrastructure projects being carried out by India in Mauritius, and hold discussions on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest including India's assistance to Mauritius," the MEA said.

The two countries will also visit India's international workshop on COVID-19 management titled-- 'Experience, Good Practices & the Way Forward' on February 18 alongside other SAARC nations.