President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed attended the attended the official enthronement ceremony of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Naruhito, on Tuesday.

The emperor ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne in May, following the abdication of his father, Emperor Akihito.

In addition to the Maldivian first couple, heads of states and officials from 170 countries were in attendance at the Enthronement Ceremony. This includes, Prince Charles, the heir apparent to the British throne, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon.

Maldives’ former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom had attended Emperor Akihito’s enthronement ceremony in 1990.

The President’s Office noted that “a change in monarch of the imperial throne of Japan is a rare and special occasion.”

The president is leading the Maldives delegation to Japan, having arrived there on Sunday to witness the historic ceremony at the Imperial Palace.

He met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday, and both countries signed an Exchange of Notes where the Japanese government will provide 500 million yen (over USD four million) to the Maldives for further promoting the economic and social development of the Maldives.

The foreign minister revealed that will be used in counter terrorism efforts.

The president and first lady also met with Maldivian community in Japan on Monday night, and told them that they “play a vital role in further boosting ties between the two nations.”