Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has extended Independence Day greetings to his counterpart in Benin, Aurélien Agbenonci.

Benin, officially the Republic of Benin, celebrates its 60th Independence Day this year. The territory became a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960.

In his message sent to Minister Agbenonci, Shahid conveyed wishes to the government and people of Benin from the government and people of Maldives “on the jubilant occasion”.

He also expressed hope that the “amicable relations between [the] two countries will further strengthen in the years ahead.”

Also on Sunday, the foreign minister sent a message of felicitations to the Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, Ignazio Cassis, on the occasion of the Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss Confederation.

Extending wishes on behalf of the Maldivian government and people, he also expressed hope that the “friendly relations that exist between our two countries will be maintained and further strengthened in the future.”

Since 1891, the first of August has been celebrated as Swiss National Day. The date refers to a historic alliance concluded in 1291 by the three cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden. This alliance was to become the focal point around which the Switzerland of today was built over the next 500 years.