President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has assured that the Maldives would join Malawi in advocating for sustainable development. He made the statement during a meeting with the President of Malawi and the current Chair of the Group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Dr. Lazarus Chakwera. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 5th United Nations (UN) Conference on the LDCs in Doha, Qatar.
During the meeting, President Solih praised President Chakwera for his role as the chair of the LDCs, his efforts in defending the interests of LDCs, and its priorities on various platforms. President Chakwera expressed pleasure at meeting President Solih and his attendance at the summit.
Speaking about the journey of the Maldives from being one of the least developed countries to upper-middle income country status, President Solih emphasised the country's challenges and hardships, particularly during the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Referring to the experience of the Maldives, President Solih stressed the significance of advocating for and securing smooth transition procedures for those graduating, including fairer graduation assessments. Both leaders discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties during the meeting, including increasing trade between the two countries to expand economic cooperation and enhance people-to-people contact. They also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in the field of tourism.
In conclusion, President Solih also noted that the Maldives and Malawi share common concerns in the international arena. He assured that the Maldives would join Malawi in advocating for sustainable development, poverty eradication, and climate change in international forums.