Vice President Faisal Naseem has discussed collaborating on safety and security in the Indian Ocean region with Australia. He held the discussions with High Commissioner of Australia to the Maldives David Holly during his farewell call.
Speaking with the high commissioner at the President’s Office, Vice President Naseem conveyed his greetings and expressed gratitude for the continued support and assistance extended to the Maldives during the high commissioner's tenure. The vice president highlighted that Australia has been a longstanding bilateral partner of the Maldives and remains a close friend and ally. He noted the generous assistance and the continued support rendered by the high commissioner and the Government of Australia to the Maldives, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vice President Naseem and High Commissioner David Holly also spoke about areas in which the Maldives and Australia presently cooperate, including higher education, human resource development, defence and security cooperation, tourism, and multilateral cooperation. They also spoke further about future collaborations on mutual interests, including the climate crisis; safety and security in the Indian Ocean region and drug rehabilitation.
Concluding the call, Vice President Naseem expressed gratitude and wished the high commissioner success in his future endeavours.