President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said the Maldives and Malaysia have agreed to begin discussions on establishing a trade agreement between the two countries.
The President made the announcement in a joint statement following official talks held during Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's official visit to the Maldives. He said the two sides held extensive discussions on further strengthening relations between the two countries.
President Dr Muizzu said Prime Minister Anwar's visit reflects the longstanding close relations between the Maldives and Malaysia and the respect each country has for the other. He said the visit would further strengthen bilateral relations, while the talks focused on strengthening existing areas of cooperation and exploring additional areas in which the two countries could work together.
Referring to agreements signed during the visit, President Dr Muizzu said they would open up new opportunities and further advance bilateral relations. He described Malaysia as a longstanding partner in the development of the Maldives' human resources and expressed gratitude to the Malaysian Government for its support in higher education.
The President said the official talks also covered expanding visa services, increasing scholarship opportunities and conducting joint research. The two sides discussed ways to ease challenges faced by Maldivians currently living in Malaysia and those travelling to the country for medical treatment.
The discussions also covered tourism, with President Dr Muizzu highlighting discussions on halal tourism and cultural and religious tourism as part of efforts to promote tourism in both countries.
Turning to economic cooperation, President Dr Muizzu said the Maldives and Malaysia had agreed to begin discussions on establishing a trade agreement to strengthen economic ties between the two countries. He also invited the Malaysian Government and Malaysian businesses to take advantage of investment opportunities in the Maldives, with discussions focusing particularly on renewable energy, digital infrastructure, construction and Islamic financing.
President Dr Muizzu said the Maldives and Malaysia would continue to work together on the international stage. In particular, he said the two countries would work together internationally to protect the rights of the Palestinians and ensure the independence of Palestine.