New Delhi: India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla today met the President-elect of the 76th UNGA and Foreign Minister of Maldives Abdulla Shahid, who is on his official visit to India from 22-24 July. During the meeting, Shringla conveyed India's support to Abdulla's leadership of the 76th UNGA. He also reiterated that 'India looks forward to working with his team under his "Presidency of Hope". The leaders also exchanged views on further strengthening India-Maldives ties.
Earlier today, Abdullah Shahid, President-elect of UNGA said, "We support the membership of India in the Security Council as a permanent member. As President of General Assembly, it would be my role to bring the countries together & try to form a broad consensus on Security Council reform process".
UN deals with terrorism issues in the Sixth Committee, convention that has been mandated to come out of the Sixth Committee continues to be negotiated. So, I'm hoping that the 76th Session will see some progress, Abdullah added. The Maldivian Foreign Minister arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday evening. He was welcomed by Joint Secretary (UNP & Summits) Prakash Gupta.
The PGA-Elect is scheduled to pay a courtesy call to Prime Minister and will be holding talks with the External Affairs Minister on key international, multilateral, regional and bilateral issues of mutual interest. EAM will also be hosting an official dinner in honour of the visiting dignitary. the MEA said. PGA-Elect will also share his vision for UNGA Presidency through a virtual public address titled "Presidency of Hope: COVID Pandemic and Need for Reformed Multilateralism” on 23 July forenoon at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) premises at Sapru House, New Delhi.
The visit of the Maldivian Foreign Minister will provide an opportunity to exchange views with him on several global challenges that the United Nations is currently seized with. It will also set an opportunity to reiterate India’s abiding commitment to multilateralism and to the UN’s leadership in confronting these challenges. Notably, India would be the first country that Abdulla Shahid is visiting in his official capacity as PGA-Elect since his election on 7th June 2021.
PGA-elect had last visited India in April 2021 in his capacity as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives. The Maldives occupies a central place as part of India’s Neighbourhood First policy and the SAGAR vision of the Prime Minister and the two Ministers are also expected to review the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation between the two sides. The discussions are expected to give further momentum to the rapidly expanding ties between the two countries. An Agreement for High Impact Community Development Projects to be implemented with Indian grant assistance in the Maldives will also be signed during the visit.
Read: Envoy daughter's abduction: India charges Pak of stooping to new low
