India One-Ups China In Maldives: Island Nation Invites PM Modi To Address Its Parliament During Official Visit

The Maldivian Parliament on Wednesday (29 May) unanimously passed a resolution to invite Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi to address the House during his likely visit to the archipelago early next month, reports India Today.

In a tweet, Maldives’ foreign minister Abdulla Shahid wrote, "Maldives Parliament has unanimously passed a resolution to invite PM Narendra Modi to address a sitting of the house during his upcoming visit to the Maldives."

The visit to Maldives will mark the first overseas visit for the PM Modi in his second term. This marks a significant thrust to the bilateral relationship which had suffered some dents during the tenure of the erstwhile China-backed Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen. PM Modi had went as far as to cancel a visit to the island nation.

It should be noted that India's relationship with Maldives witness a major upswing ever since the incumbent President of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih took to helm of affairs in late 2018 by ousting Yameen.

Also, PM Modi's first and only visit to the Indian Ocean nation during his first term was when President Solih had invited him to his inauguration ceremony in a bid to heal the tensed relations.