Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday handed over a fast patrol vessel and a landing craft to the Maldives as India's gift at an event in Male even as he and Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih held talks to expand the already close bilateral strategic ties. In his address at the ceremony in presence of top civil and military brass of the island nation, Singh said the India-Maldives relationship is "truly special" and that it has evolved as a model for the entire region to follow. The defence minister also highlighted the need for India, the Maldives and other like-minded nations of the region to enhance cooperation in addressing the common challenges in the Indian Ocean Region.