Islamabad: Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has arrived in Pakistan for a state visit aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation.
The October 20 to 22 visit is taking place at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s invitation. Muizzu is accompanied by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed and a senior government delegation.
Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam, cabinet ministers and senior officials arrived earlier on Tuesday.
According to the Foreign Office statement, they were received at the airport by its spokesperson, the director general for South Asia and SAARC, and the two countries’ high commissioners.
Muizzu is scheduled to meet President Asif Ali Zardari, who will host a state banquet in his honour. He will also hold restricted and delegation level talks with Shehbaz.
The announced agenda covers trade, investment, health, education, tourism, agriculture, defence, maritime security, climate change and exchanges between the two countries’ people. Regional and international developments of mutual interest will also be discussed.
A Pakistan Maldives Business Forum will bring together business representatives to explore commercial opportunities. Several agreements and memorandums of understanding are expected during the visit, while the Maldivian presidency said the leaders would witness an exchange of cooperation documents following their talks.
Six decades of relations
The visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, established on July 26, 1966, a year after Maldivian independence.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, cooperation has developed across education, health, defence, training, trade, sports and climate change. Commercial links include Habib Bank Limited’s presence in the Maldives since 1976.
Pakistan’s announced programme describes the trip as the first state visit by a Maldivian president in 11 years. It provides an opportunity to review that longstanding relationship and identify further areas for cooperation.
