Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid has stated that the year 2022 was another exceptional year for the Maldives Foreign Service.

Minister Shahid stated this in his new year message on Saturday.

As such, the Maldivian Minister noted that the year 2022 was an exceptional year for the Maldives Foreign Service, and for the Maldives internationally, in working towards the realization of the three pillars of the Maldives foreign policy - human rights, democracy and good governance and climate action.

Noting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs marked its 90th anniversary, in 2022, Minister Shahid noted that the Maldives Foreign Service Act entered into effect on 14 May 2022, realizing a long-held dream and aspiration of the Maldivian diplomatic service.

The Minister went onto note that the Maldivian flag was raised high, reaching all corners of the world in 2022.

Minister Shahid, in his message, also noted that Maldives established diplomatic relations with more countries, in 2022, totaling the number of diplomatic relations established to 182 countries.

He highlighted that the Maldives re-opened it's Embassy in Washington. He also noted the country welcomed Foreign Ministers of China, Hungary, India, and Türkiye.

Additionally, Minister Shahid noted that the country joined the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, and was granted dialogue partner status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, opening new avenues to enhance our cooperation with the countries of those regions.

Highligting that the Maldives Foreign Service got the opportunity to work together with like minded countries, in the Human Rights Council, and the General Assembly, Minister Shahid noted that the Maldives was successful in declaring access to clean and healthy environment a universal human right.

Minister Shahid highlighted that the Maldives completed its Presidency of the United Nations General Assembly, last year. He stated that his “Presidency of Hope” delivered just that – hope.

As such, the Foreign Minister said that the residency navigated through the agenda items of the seventy-sixth session of the General Assembly, while also convening the 11th Emergency Special Session on Ukraine, the resurgence and rebuilding after the COVID-19 pandemic, and also introducing new themes to the General Assembly such as tourism, and the interplay between the various environmental tracks.

He also highlighted that the saw, the President of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih addressing the General Debate in Dhivehi, while a Maldivian presided over the session. He described this occasion as a unique honour.