Maldives and Malaysia to ‘increase cooperation in various fields’
Malaysian PM and First Lady arrived in the Maldives on Tuesday evening
Foreign Minister Asim and Home Minister Azleen welcomed the Malaysian First Couple at Velana International Airport on Tuesday evening
President Abdulla Yameen and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak are to ‘increase cooperation in various fields’ during the PM’s two-day visit to the Maldives.
In a tweet sent out, Bahasa Melayu, after arriving in the Maldives on Tuesday evening, the PM said that he hopes to increase cooperation fields such as ‘health, tourism and higher education’.
“Just arrived for my official visit to the Maldives. Insya-Allah will increase cooperation in various fields. Including health, tourism and higher education,” reads his tweet.
According to the President’s Office, the Malaysian First Couple are in the Maldives from 19th to 20th December, on the invitation of President Abdulla Yameen and First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim.
Foreign Minister Dr. Mohamed Asim and Home Minister Azleen Ahmed had received the PM and First Lady, at Velana International Airport.
President Yameen and Najib are to hold bilateral discussions on Wednesday, ‘to enhance the existing ties and development partnership’ between the two countries, and are expected to sign a number of memorandums of understandings as well.
The PM sent a separate tweet, with a photo attached, which reads “taking a stroll amidst my hectic schedule, to enjoy the beauty of His Creation”.
2017 marks the 49th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties with Malaysia, and formal bilateral relations were established in 1968. This is the first time a Malaysian leader is visiting the country in 33 years, with the last visit by former PM Mahathir Mohamed in 1984.
President Yameen and the First Lady were on an official trip in Malaysia in December 2016, where both parties ‘rejoiced the close bonds of the two nations’.
