Minister Khaleel Cites Trade, Education, and Islamic Values in Praise of Cairo Diplomatic Talks

Dr Abdulla Khaleel, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has concluded an official visit to Egypt, reaffirming the enduring diplomatic relationship between the two nations and advancing discussions on trade, investment, education, and shared Islamic values.

The visit was undertaken at the invitation of Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Dr Badr Ahmed Mohamed Abdelatty. In a statement shared on social media, Minister Khaleel described the talks as constructive and highlighted their focus on deepening ties across key sectors.

“Pleased to have engaged in constructive discussions with Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdelatty on strengthening our brotherly ties and advancing cooperation in key areas, including trade, investment, tourism, education, and shared Islamic values,” he wrote.

According to the Maldivian Foreign Ministry, the visit underscored the longstanding bonds of friendship between the Maldives and Egypt, ties rooted in a shared Islamic heritage and sustained through more than five decades of mutual respect and collaboration.

The official programme, which began on 17 October, included a series of high-level meetings with Dr Abdelatty and other senior Egyptian officials. These engagements focused on expanding cooperation in economic, educational, and political spheres.

Minister Khaleel reiterated the positive tone of these discussions in a subsequent post, noting his meeting with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, His Eminence Dr Ahmed El-Tayeb.

“Honoured to have paid a courtesy call on the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, His Eminence Dr Ahmed El-Tayeb, and reflected on the deep-rooted educational and cultural bonds shared between Maldives and Egypt,” he wrote. “I was also pleased to have engaged with other senior officials of the Government of Egypt, reaffirming the strong bonds of friendship between our two countries.”

The meeting with Dr El-Tayeb included an exchange of views on promoting peace, moderation, and Islamic solidarity. The Foreign Ministry reported that discussions also explored enhanced collaboration between the Maldives and Al-Azhar, particularly in education, scholarship opportunities, and human resource development.

In his engagements with Egyptian officials, Minister Khaleel provided a comprehensive briefing on the Maldives’ economic priorities. He outlined ongoing efforts to diversify the national economy and ensure sustainable growth across sectors such as trade, investment, health, tourism, and infrastructure.

Both governments expressed interest in identifying future avenues of cooperation aligned with the Maldives’ development goals, the Maldivian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The ministry further noted that these discussions reflected a shared commitment to deepening bilateral engagement.

Addressing the concerns of the Maldivian community in Egypt, Minister Khaleel met with students currently pursuing their studies in the country. The meeting offered an opportunity to hear their specific concerns and reaffirm the traditionally close relationship between the two nations, the ministry said.

The visit also marked a significant step in formalising political cooperation. An agreement was signed between the Maldives and Egypt concerning the provision of assistance within the political sphere. According to the Foreign Ministry, the accord institutionalises cooperation efforts that were first initiated in 2019.

The Maldivian government maintains that Minister Khaleel’s diplomatic mission will serve to further consolidate the bilateral relationship. He was accompanied by Secretary Dr Hala Hameed and Additional Secretary Khadeeja Najeeha.