Monday, March 28 2005 14:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom today (March 28, 2005) held wide-ranging discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, primarily aimed at further consolidating friendly and cooperative bilateral ties.

On a six-day official visit at the invitation of President A P J Abdul Kalam, Gayoom, who is accompanied by First Lady Nasreena, and Singh, exchanged views on important regional and global issues of mutual concern.

The Indian delegation included External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, National Security Adviser M K Narayanan and Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran.

He will tomorrow (March 29, 2005) have meetings with Kalam, Natwar Singh and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Leader of Opposition L K Advani will call on Gayoom on Wednesday (March 30, 2005) before he leaves on visits to Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram, where he will be meeting members of the Maldivian community.

The External Affairs Ministry said India and Maldives enjoy close and cordial relations. India has played an active and constructive role in the field of public health and human resource development in Maldives.

Maldives has highly appreciated India's prompt and effective assistance during the recent tsunami disaster.

"The present high-level visit would serve to further strengthen the friendly and cooperative ties that exist between the two countries," the Ministry said.