President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has concluded his official visit to Qatar, following which he will be traveling to Bangladesh.

The president is accompanied by the First Lady, Fazna Ahmed, as well as the high-level delegation comprising of Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aishath Nahula, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Ali Zahir, the President’s Chief of Staff, Ahmed Khaleel, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sabra Ibrahim Noordeen, Secretary of Foreign Relations and Ibrahim Hood, Chief Communications Strategist at the President’s Office, during his trips to the two countries.

The president engaged in official talks with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani at the Amiri Diwan, the Amir’s Administrative Office in Qatar, after the president and the high-level Maldivian delegation touched down in Doha early Monday.

The official talks were followed by an official lunch hosted in the president’s honor.

During the discussions the pair shed light on the commitment to take the Maldives-Qatar relations to new heights from enhancing diplomatic engagements to increasing investments and development cooperation. Further the two leaders also touched down on increasing mutual investment opportunities as well as the impacts of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in their respective countries. President Solih applauded the government of Qatar for the measures implemented to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Solih also announced his intention to appoint a non-resident Maldivian Ambassador to Qatar to further enhance bilateral relations.

The Maldivian president expressed his keen interest to continue working with the government of Qatar on issues of global importance, such as climate change, sustainable development and the promotion and protection of human rights.

President Solih’s trip to Qatar marked the celebration of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Maldives and Qatar.

In addition, the Qatari Emir’s spouse, Sheikha Jawaher Bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani honored First Lady Fazna Ahmed with a private lunch during the visit.

On Monday evening, the first couple toured the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, which houses one of the most comprehensive Islamic art collections in the world.

During his upcoming visit to Bangladesh the president will attend the ceremony commemorating the ‘Birth Centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.’

This is the president’s second trip abroad since the Maldives reopened borders in July 2020 after nearly four months since borders were closed due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.