Male, July 25 -- Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Friday hosted an official banquet in honour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Male, where he praised PM Modi's leadership and reaffirmed the strong ties between India and the Maldives.

"India has long stood as the Maldives's closest and most trusted partner. Our collaboration spans a wide range of areas, from security and trade to healthcare, education and beyond, touching the everyday lives of our citizens," Muizzu said.

"Every day hundreds of Maldivians travel to India for medical care, education and business, just as we warmly welcome members of the Indian diaspora who continue to contribute meaningfully to our economy and society," he said. Sharing his government's development ...