THE OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER Speaker An?lu Farrugia expresses his solidarity to the new Indian High Commissioner with respect to the high number of coronavirus fatalities in India

Speaker Anglu Farrugia received a courtesy call by Ms Sangeeta Bahadur, the new High Commissioner of the Republic of India. He expressed his solidarity to the high commissioner for the unprecedented loss of lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which amounts to the third highest in the world after the United States and Brazil, and requested her to convey his solidarity to the Indian authorities and people.

Speaker Farrugia referred to the very friendly bilateral relations that exist between Malta and India, following their establishment diplomatically in March 1965. The various high-level meetings further enhanced these relations, and, in this regard, he recalled his meeting with the Indian Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu in September 2018, during the latter’s visit to Malta.

He referred to the Maltese doing missionary work in India, as well as the numerous Indian citizens working in Malta. He mentioned the Indian community which has been living in Malta for decades and has integrated very well in the Maltese society.

Speaker Farrugia and High Commissioner Bahadur discussed issues of mutual interest, such as the formation of a Parliamentary Friendship Group. The Commonwealth and the forthcoming 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament also featured in the discussion.

Ms Sangeeta Bahadur, High Commissioner of the Republic of India, was accompanied by Mr J. S. Dua, Counsellor, at the Indian High Commission in Malta.

Source: Office of the Prime Minister