President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Couple Fazna Ahmed have returned after concluding a state visit to Seychelles.

While the first couple departed to the East African island nation, on the invitation of President Danny Faure, on Thursday, they returned on Monday morning.

This was not just the president’s maiden visit to the country, but also the first-ever state visit by a Maldivian leader.

During the visit, President Solih and President Faure held bilateral talks and both countries signed seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoU); including a General Cooperation Agreement between the two governments, as well as frameworks for collaboration between the two foreign ministries, in tourism, blue economy, vocational training and youth development, and in sports cooperation. In addition, the Seychelles government has also decided to provide four annual scholarships commencing this year, for Maldivian students to study maritime fields, at the University of Seychelles.

President Solih said that the agreements signed during his visit to the fellow island nation “signals the willingness on our parts to exchange knowledge, increase cooperation and move towards shared mutual progress.”

President Faure held a special banquet on Friday night, in honour of the president and first lady. The first couple also did some sightseeing on the trip to Seychelles, including visiting View Point at La Misére and the Botanical Garden where a tree planting ceremony was held.

The President’s Office described the visit as “a fruitful one, progressing our bilateral friendship,” and that President Solih had extended an invitation to “reciprocate Seychellois hospitality in the future.”

This year marks the 39th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic ties between Maldives and Seychelles.