New Delhi

The Maldives on Saturday conferred Prime Minister Narendra Modi with its highest honour accorded to foreign dignitaries - the Most Honourable Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen (Order of Nishanizzuddeen) in recognition his services to cement the longstanding, amicable ties between two countries and for the magnanimous assistance that India has continued to provide the Maldives. 

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Modi was conferred with the award at the Maldivian President's office by Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. 

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“Order of Nishan Izzuddeen” in the past has been conferred by Maldives to Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip; Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma; former President of South Korea, Chun Doo Hwan; former Secretary General of the Commonwealth Shridath Surendranath Ramphal and Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia.

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Earlier this year, PM Modi was conferred with Russia and UAE's highest civilian award. While Russia conferred PM Modi with its "Order of St Andrew the Apostle", the UAE conferred him with the Zayed Medal.

In the past, PM Modi has been conferred with the highest civilian award of Saudi Arabia - the King Abdulaziz Sash ( 2016), Afghanistan's highest civilian honour, the Amir Amanullah Khan Award (2016); Grand Collar of the State of Palestine which is is the highest order given to foreign dignitaries (2018); UN's highest environmental honour - Champions of the Earth award (2018) and 2018 Seoul Peace Prize.

Earlier, Modi said India will help promote cricket in the Maldives and fulfil President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's mission to develop the sport in the country to consolidate people-to-people relations.

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Modi gifted a cricket bat to Solih signed by the Indian cricket team after holding bilateral talks.

"Connected by cricket! My friend, President Solih is an ardent cricket fan, so I presented him a cricket bat that has been signed by Team India playing at the CWC2019," Modi said on Twitter.