The new High Commissioner of Australia to the Republic of Maldives, Paul Wesley Stephens and President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has held discussions on opening an Australian High Commission in the Maldives.

High Commissioner Paul presented his credentials to the President during a ceremony held at the President's Office, on Monday.

Meeting the High Commissioner after the ceremony, President Solih noted that the Maldives greatly values the strong bilateral relations that exist with Australia.

The President and High Commissioner shed light on the commitment to open an Australian High Commission in the Maldives and described it as a tangible demonstration of how the two countries' bilateral relations have grown over the years.

They also discussed various topics of mutual interest, including higher education, tourism, multilateral cooperation, maritime security, combating transnational crime, as well as collaboration on the oceans, environment, and climate change.

The President and the High Commissioner of Australia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the bilateral ties between the two countries in areas of shared interest.

The Maldives and Australia established diplomatic relations in 1974.