'Former Prez Yameen tried to play India against China as puppet master', says new Maldivian govt

Newly elected President Solih is visiting India in his first foreign visit after assuming office.

This handout photograph taken and released by India's Press Information Bureau (PIB) on November 17, 2018 shows new Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (R) looking on as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signs a guestbook during Solih's presidential inauguration in Male. - Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was inaugurated November 17 as the new president of the Maldives after the opposition united to dislodge pro-China strongman leader Abdulla Yameen in September elections. (Photo by Handout / PIB / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / PIB" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

New Delhi: In a good sign for India-Maldives relations which had soured in the recent years, the newly-elected government of Maldives is taking steps to mend ties with India which it considers an important strategic partner.  The newly elected President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will be on his first foreign visit to India next month to further strengthen the bilateral ties between the countries. India-Maldives ties had plunged significantly under the Presidency of Yameen who was close to China. Maldives Foreign Minister Minister Abdulla Shahid said that the former president Abdulla Yameen, alleging he tried to play India against China. "Former Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen tried to play India against China as a puppet master but we know the importance of India as an ally which has always come to the aid of Maldives," he was quoted as saying by PTI. Shahid said that the new Maldives government considers India such an important partner that President Solih would be making his first foreign visit to India next month on December 17. A ministerial delegation from Maldives, including Shahid, Minister of Finance Fayaaz Ismail, Minister of Economic Development Ibrahim Ameer and Minister of State for Foreign affairs Ahmed Khaleel, is currently on a visit to India. "We want to assure India that we are back in business and we would not hide behind scourge of corruption," he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. It should be noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attended oath-taking ceremony of Solih who had a surprise victory over strongman Abdulla Yameen in the presidential election.