Key agreements have been signed between the governments of Maldives and Cambodia to further strengthen the existing bilateral relations between the two countries.

On Monday, both governments signed six key agreements mirroring a pivotal point of progress in bilateral relations between the two countries.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen who is currently undertaking an official visit to the island nation, presided over the agreement exchange ceremony .

The agreements exchanged on Monday include an Agreement on Visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic, Official and Ordinary Passports signed between Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid and Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhon.

The agreement aims to ease existing travel restrictions for holders of diplomatic, official, and ordinary passports of both the Maldives and Cambodia and to further solidify the socio-economic relationship between the two countries.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Bilateral Consultations was also signed between Foreign Minister Shahid and Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhon in a bid to invite discussions to build relationships between the Maldives and Cambodia in several fields.

Further, Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail and Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation signed an Agreement on Economic Cooperation, seeking to solidify, promote and develop economic cooperation between the two countries, based on equality and mutual benefit.

Fourth was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Health Cooperation signed between Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem and Cambodia’s Minister of Health Professor MAM Bunheng.

The agreement aims to assist the archipelago nation to seek support to enhance healthcare facilities, train healthcare professionals and carry out prevention and advocacy programmes.

Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom and his Cambodian counterpart, Thong Khon also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tourism Cooperation, in a bid to assist in the advertisement of tourism, provide training as well as further investment opportunities and facilitating travel between the two countries.

The sixth agreement was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce.

The MoU was signed by a board member of the Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mohamed Ikram Ibrahim, and the President of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce Neak Oknh Kith Men.

The agreement is expected to pave the path for possibilities to build trade relations, increasing trade, expanding investments, and further enhancing industrial, business, and economic cooperation between the two countries.