Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has departed on an official visit to the United Kingdom.

Minister Shahid departed from the Velana International Airport on Saturday morning.

The visit will see FM Shahid paying a courtesy call on the new leadership of the UK including the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development James Cleverly.

Discussions will revolve around enhancing the longstanding relations between the two countries.

During the visit the Maldivian minister will also meet with the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict and Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia and the United Nations Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for Asia, Energy, Climate and Environment Lord Goldsmith as well as members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords of UK.

As part of the visit, FM Shahid will deliver a speech at the Oxford Union Society revolving around the topic; “The future of multilateralism”.

The Maldivian minister is accompanied by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel and Joint Secretary Shiuneen Rasheed.

His week-long visit is from October 29 – November 4.