Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has left New Delhi, today, on a four-day visit to Maldives. Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s statement.

~I leave today on an official visit to the republic of Maldives. It is my first visit to that country and the first official bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister since April 1995.

As close neighbours, India and Maldives have a very special relationship. We have a number of important economic co-operation projects, close political coordination in SAARC and other international organizations, and a sizeable Indian community of nearly 15000 in Maldives.

In my discussions with President Gayoom and other representatives of Maldivian leadership, I look forward to reviewing the progress in our on-going bilateral projects and to discuss some new projects which will define our partnership in the coming decades.

My discussions would, of course, also include the regional and global situation including the important contemporary global concerns on terrorism, environment and sustainable development.~