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VP highlights importance of security of Indian Ocean

Vice President Faisal Naseem has stated the security of the Indian Ocean region is of huge importance for the Maldives and other countries in the region. He made the remarks in a meeting with former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe on the sidelines of the fifth Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) 2021.

During the meeting, Vice President Naseem and the former prime minister also spoke about the situation of COVID-19 and how the two countries are gradually recovering from the pandemic. The vice president expressed his gratitude for the generous hospitality extended to the Maldivian population residing in Sri Lanka and highlighted Sri Lanka's contribution to the education sector of the Maldives, including vocational training and the health sector. He also highlighted the efforts of the Maldives to address climate change and said the country is investing immensely in environmental protection, adding that it is time for the whole world to take action. The former prime minister also inquired about the progress of tourism in the Maldives, and the vice president informed the tourism sector is slowly recovering after the pandemic.

Vice President Naseem is in the UAE to attend the inauguration of IOC 2021 as the Guest of Honour and will conclude his visit and return to the Maldives on December 8. He is accompanied on the visit by a high-level delegation from the President's Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.