Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi began high-level talks with visiting Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the national capital on Tuesday. "Talks are currently underway between the two top leaders. On the agenda are various issues, including maritime ties, and both India and the Maldives are expected to sign a number of pacts, post-talks," sources said. President Solih arrived in Delhi on Monday on a four-day visit to India. A high-level business delegation is accompanying him. "A warm welcome to a close friend and maritime neighbour! President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of Maldives arrives in New Delhi for an official visit," Indian External Affairs Ministry tweeted after his arrival. Read: Attack on interns: Osmani Medical College students suspend strike "An opportunity to nurture the unwavering friendship between our two countries and lend further momentum to the multifaceted partnership,” the Ministry wrote. On Monday itself, President Solih held a meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who later said that "India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and the Maldives' 'India First' policy are complementary". President Solih's visit comes barely a week after India gave its nod to a pact for judicial cooperation between the two countries. The Maldives is one of India's key maritime neighbours.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay a two-day official visit to the Maldives, the largest labour market for Bangladesh in South Asia, on December 22-23 to take the relations between the two countries to newer heights. The Prime Minister will fly to Male on a special flight on December 22 and be received at the airport by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel. On Thursday (Dec 23) morning, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will formally welcome the Prime Minister and then she will be given Guard of Honour. After receiving the guard of honour, the Prime Minister will proceed to the Presidential Palace. The President of the Maldives will hold a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister at the venue. After the meeting, the two countries are likely to sign four bilateral documents -- agreement on avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, MoU on cooperation in the area of youth and sports development, MoU on recruitment of qualified health professionals and MoU in the areas of healthcare and medical sciences between Bangladesh and Maldives (renewal). Read: Hasina for strengthening connectivity with Maldives At the request of the Maldivian Defence Ministry, 13 military vehicles, provided by the Bangladesh Army, will be handed over to the Maldivian Defence Ministry as a token of friendship. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen briefed the media at Foreign Service Academy on the Prime Minister’s forthcoming visit to the Maldives. Secretary (East) Mashfee Binte Shams and Secretary (Maritime Affairs Unit) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rear Admiral (Retd) Md Khurshed Alam were, among others, present.

President Abdul Hamid on Thursday stressed the need for establishing direct air and water connectivity between Maldives and Bangladesh to further enhance trade and investment ties between the two countries. 

Bangladesh has urged Maldives to sign Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) between the two countries to strengthen the relations on trade and investment fronts.