Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has returned to Maldives on Saturday, after his first official trip abroad.

His first visit abroad was to neighboring India. Afterwards he traveled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

During his visit to India, from November 23-27, Minister Shahid met with Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and discussed on ways to further strengthen cooperation between both nations.

Furthermore, during his meeting with Minister Swaraj, both parties decided that Maldives’ incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will travel to India in December for his first state visit since assuming office on November 17. Maldives is to enter a ‘visa agreement’ during the president’s visit.

Minister Shahid traveled to UAE on Tuesday, where he met his counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and discussed way to “further strength the relationship between the two countries”.

Furthermore, both parties reached an agreement to waive visa fee for Maldivians travelling to UAE; Maldivians will be able to travel visa free to UAE from the beginning of 2019.

Minister Shahid is expected to travel to China in the near furture.