Malaysian PM, First Lady conclude two-day official visit to Maldives

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and First Lady Rosmah Mansor left the Maldives on Wednesday evening, after concluding their two-day official visit.

The first couple arrived in the Maldives on Tuesday evening, at the invitation of President Abdulla Yameen and First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim.

As announced earlier by the President’s Office, President Yameen and PM Najib signed four memoranda of understanding during this trip, to further strengthen the bilateral ties between both nations.

READ MORE: Maldives, Malaysia inks four agreements

In a joint statement issued after their meeting on Wednesday morning, President Yameen announced that Malaysia has agreed to increase the anti-terror efforts in both countries, adding that he and the President had discussed on ways to prevent attacks from terror groups. President Yameen further said that the Maldives’ fight against radicalization and terrorism will be ‘doubled’ with the help of Malaysia.

READ MORE: President says relations with Malaysia will 'double' anti-terror efforts

The Malaysian PM also vowed that his government will construct the finance ministry’s 25-storey building, thanking the President for choosing a Malaysian company for the USD 122 million project.

READ MORE: PM Najib Razak says Malaysia wants help construct 25-storey Finance Ministry premises

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’.