ISLAMABAD, Oct 21 (APP):Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on Wednesday terming his talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as “constructive” said he looked forward towards building a “stronger and mutually beneficial partnership”.
“Today’s exchange of 20 MoUs opens a dynamic new chapter in Maldives-Pakistan relations,” he said in his post on X, following his meeting with PM Sharif and the delegation-level talks here at the Prime Minister’s House.
The two leaders leading the respective delegation-level talks agreed to increase the volume of their bilateral trade up to $200 million within the next two years. The two sides also signed 20 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at deepening bilateral relations in multiple sectors.
President Muizzu said, “We reviewed our longstanding friendship and outlined joint priorities across key sectors, including trade and investment, health and education, environment and tourism, fisheries and agriculture, youth and sports, defence and security, training and capacity-building, as well as regional and multilateral cooperation.”
“We engaged in constructive discussions that lay a solid foundation for strengthening our bilateral ties, as we celebrate 60 years of formal diplomatic relations,” he said.
He expressed satisfaction on the agreement to increase bilateral trade in next two years. “I am pleased that we have agreed to take the bilateral trade between our countries from USD 13 million to USD 200 million within the next 2 years.”
He expressed gratitude to the government of Pakistan on the “invaluable donation to our five million tree planting initiative,” and mentioned the hospitality extended to him.
“Thank you Prime Minister and my dear brother Shehbaz Sharif, for your warm and generous hospitality, as well as the kindness and friendship you have extended to me. I am extremely grateful for the highly productive official talks we had today,” he said.
Dr Muizzu said it was a “great honour” for him and his country, to have been conferred the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) in Politics and International Relations by the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI).
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
