India backs Maldives for presidency of UN General Assembly

India has pledged its support to elect Foreign Minister of Maldives Abdulla Shahid as the president of the United Nation's General Assembly.

India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, during a visit to the Maldives currently underway, made the announcement that India will be supporting the move of its neighbor for the presidency of the UN General Assembly.

Secretary Shringla was speaking in a ceremony held to sign four MoUs between India and the Maldives today when he made the announcement. 

Secretary Shringla's visit is upon the request of his Maldivian counterpart Abdul Gafoor Mohamed and is the first visit by a top Indian government official to the Maldives in 2020. Secretary Shringla met with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih today and held bilateral relations with Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid and Defense Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi as well.

Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid thanked Secretary Shringla for India's support to the Maldives during the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic during the discussions held today. The two also held discussions regarding bilateral relations between the two close neighbors.