Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan to the Maldives, 3 to 4 September 2019

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan will attend the fourth Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) in the Maldives on 3 September 2019 in his capacity as Co Vice-Chair of the Organising Committee, alongside Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India Dr S Jaishankar and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives Abdulla Shahid. The fourth IOC will be chaired by Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe. Minister Balakrishnan will deliver remarks at the inaugural session on 3 September 2019.

The IOC is a Track 1.5 event organized by the India Foundation based in New Delhi, in collaboration with the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) and the government of the Republic of Maldives to discuss cooperation in the Indian Ocean. The theme of the fourth IOC is “Securing the Indian Ocean: Traditional and Non-Traditional Challenges”.

Minister Balakrishnan will also make an introductory visit to the Republic of Maldives at the invitation of Foreign Minister Shahid in conjunction with the IOC. Minister Balakrishnan will also have bilateral meetings with several counterparts attending the IOC.

Minister Balakrishnan will be accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

3 SEPTEMBER 2019