<p>Male: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Friday jointly inaugurated a state-of-the-art building of the defence ministry of Maldives in Male.</p>.<p>The prime minister also handed over 72 vehicles and equipment for use by the Maldives National Defence Force.</p>.<p>The defence ministry building is a "concrete building of trust" and it is a symbol of our "strong partnership", Modi said.</p>.India loosens purse strings to keep Maldives from drifting towards China.<p>"India will continue to support Maldives in the development of its defence capabilities. Peace, stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region is our common goal," he said.</p>.<p>In a social media post, Modi described it as "yet another instance of strong India-Maldives cooperation." "Overlooking the Indian Ocean, the eleven-storey building is a symbol of the strong and long-standing defence and security cooperation between the two countries," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release.</p>.<p>The MoD building has been constructed with India's financial assistance and will contribute towards enhancing the capabilities of the defence and law enforcement authorities of the Maldives, it added.</p>.<p>The prime minister arrived here from London in the second and final leg of his two-nation trip.</p>.<p>Modi was accorded a warm welcome with Muizzu and a number of top ministers of his government receiving him at the Velena International Airport.</p>.<p>Hours later, Modi was accorded a colourful ceremonial welcome and a guard of honour at the iconic Republic Square. </p>
<p>Male: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Friday jointly inaugurated a state-of-the-art building of the defence ministry of Maldives in Male.</p>.<p>The prime minister also handed over 72 vehicles and equipment for use by the Maldives National Defence Force.</p>.<p>The defence ministry building is a "concrete building of trust" and it is a symbol of our "strong partnership", Modi said.</p>.India loosens purse strings to keep Maldives from drifting towards China.<p>"India will continue to support Maldives in the development of its defence capabilities. Peace, stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region is our common goal," he said.</p>.<p>In a social media post, Modi described it as "yet another instance of strong India-Maldives cooperation." "Overlooking the Indian Ocean, the eleven-storey building is a symbol of the strong and long-standing defence and security cooperation between the two countries," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release.</p>.<p>The MoD building has been constructed with India's financial assistance and will contribute towards enhancing the capabilities of the defence and law enforcement authorities of the Maldives, it added.</p>.<p>The prime minister arrived here from London in the second and final leg of his two-nation trip.</p>.<p>Modi was accorded a warm welcome with Muizzu and a number of top ministers of his government receiving him at the Velena International Airport.</p>.<p>Hours later, Modi was accorded a colourful ceremonial welcome and a guard of honour at the iconic Republic Square. </p>