President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that his administration has been able to realise the developmental aspirations of the people and that it relied on the power of diplomacy and international cooperation. He made the statement at a meeting with the newly appointed ambassadors and high commissioners.
At a special ceremony, President Solih accepted the credentials of Ambassador of Mongolia Ganbold Dambajav, Ambassador of France Jean-François Pactet, Ambassador of Russia Levan Dzhagaryan, Ambassador of Serbia Siniša Pavić, Ambassador of Greece Dimitrios Loannu, Ambassador of Slovenia Mateja Vodeb Ghosh, High Commissioner of Namibia Gabriel P. Sinimbo, and High Commissioner of Canada Eric Walsh.
Speaking at the meeting after the ceremony, President Solih noted the essential roles the accredited high commissioners and ambassadors played in strengthening and sustaining bilateral relations between the Maldives and other nations. He also said that in the past four years, his administration was able to realise the developmental aspirations of the people and that it relied on the power of diplomacy and international cooperation based on the three pillars of the country’s foreign policy: promotion and protection of human rights, consolidating democracy, and championing climate diplomacy, in fulfilling this commitment.
Additionally, President Solih highlighted the necessary fiscal policy changes the administration was undertaking to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on the Maldivian economy. He also spoke about the importance of increasing people-to-people contact and noted that enabling more accessible travel would encourage cultural exchanges, strengthen economic ties, and build everlasting bridges of peace, prosperity, and progress.
Furthermore, President Solih said that the Maldives grants on-arrival visas, irrespective of country, and expressed hope for ease of travel for Maldivians by the respective countries soon. He expressed hope that the relations between the Maldives and the respective nations will be strengthened during their terms.