President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed have attended the official welcome reception and state dinner hosted by President of Rwanda Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame in honour of the visiting high-level delegates. The Rwandan president hosted the welcome reception and state dinner at the Kigali Convention Centre.
President Solih is currently visiting Rwanda to attend the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2022. First Lady Fazna and a high-level delegation are accompanying him on the trip. CHOGM 2022 is the first meeting to be held since the re-accession of the Maldives to the Commonwealth of Nations in February 2020.
The President's Office said the visit signifies President Solih’s commitment to engage with the international community, especially with the Commonwealth member states, in promoting democracy, human rights, good governance, multilateralism, and world peace. Through such multilateral forums, the administration seeks to engage in the exchange of expertise and assistance with regard to building inclusive, resilient, and environmentally conscious communities.
On the sidelines of the meeting, President Solih will hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders to strengthen the role of the Maldives in the international community, advance its shared interests, and contribute to resolving global issues. Leaders from 54 countries have gathered in Kigali for the meeting, where discussions focus on youth, women, business, and civil society. The leaders are also scheduled to meet privately at the Commonwealth Leaders Retreat to discuss collaboration on the global platform and Commonwealth priorities.