Seychelles president Danny Faure held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his trip to India, signed six agreements and attended a banquet hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind. He seemed to have struck all the right notes during his visit to India.
Faure also sang a melodious song while strumming a sitar at a lunch hosted by Modi. Faure took to singing O Mon Pei Sesel and playing the sitar at the lunch as the prime minister looked on.
Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted a video clip:
In a goodwill gesture, Seychelles gifted a pair of giant Aldabra Tortoises to India. Thanking Faure for the gift, Modi said the creatures with long life spans have been around for three centuries and are a symbol of "our ever-lasting" friendship.
"In India, this creature and other animals are seen with a lot of love and compassion," he said in his press statement. The pair will be kept at Hyderabad Zoo, a Ministry of External Affairs official said. Gifting or giving Aldabra Tortoises on loan to friendly countries is a part of the Seychellois diplomacy.
The "frank and productive" discussions between Modi and Faure reflect a normalising of ties between the two countries. The two leaders agreeing to work together "for the welfare of each other" assumes greater significance because the base would give India an advantage in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
India's primary objective for setting up a joint naval facility in Assumption is to ensure the safe passage of shipping vessels and containers in the southern IOR. Another important objective is that the base would allow the Indian Navy to monitor the Mozambique Channel and thwart any piracy attempts, as The Diplomat pointed out.
The facility can also potentially counter China's increasing presence and securitisation of the IOR.
Six agreements signed
Six agreements were signed between India and Seychelles after talks between Modi and Faure. They discussed about cooperation in key areas such as defence and security between the two nations at the Hyderabad House.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Seychelles president Danny Faure. PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Seychelles president Danny Faure. PTI
India and Seychelles agreed to work together on a project to develop a naval base at the Assumption Island keeping each other’s concerns in mind after talks between Narendra Modi and Faure.
India also announced a $100 million credit to Seychelles for augmenting its defence capabilities. "With this credit, Seychelles will be able to buy defence equipment to boost its maritime capacity," Modi said in his joint media statement with Faure.
On the project to develop a naval facility at the island, which would give India a strategic advantage in the Indian Ocean Region, Modi said, "We have agreed to work together on the Assumption Island project based on each other’s rights."