KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and the Maldives have ample scope to strengthen parliamentary cooperation, including through exchange visits, sharing of experiences and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) platform, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said that as Commonwealth member countries, Malaysia and the Maldives had ample scope to learn from each other’s experiences in strengthening institutions, enhancing governance and improving public sector capacity.
Anwar said this in a Facebook post, after receiving a courtesy call from People’s Majlis of Maldives Speaker, Abdul Raheem Abdulla, during his two-day official visit to the country.
During the visit, he also held several meetings with the Maldives leadership to expand cooperation in strategic areas, including education, defence, trade, investment, tourism, the halal industry and the digital economy.
Anwar said his meeting with Maldives Vice-President Hussain Mohamed Latheef also discussed efforts to expand cooperation in higher education, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), professional training and human capital development.
He also held a meeting with Maldives Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam to exchange views on the positive momentum in bilateral ties.
Officials and the business communities of both countries are also encouraged to identify specific opportunities in trade and investment, tourism, the halal industry and the digital economy, so that the good relations could be translated into tangible benefits.
He said that both sides also discussed efforts to strengthen climate resilience and the sustainable development agenda, taking into account the specific challenges faced by the Maldives, as a small developing island nation.
He added that he would also continue to work with Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and the country’s government to strengthen bilateral ties.
Anwar departed for home today after concluding a two-day official visit to the Maldives at Muizzu’s invitation, marking his first visit to the Indian Ocean island republic since becoming Prime Minister in November 2022.
The Malaysian delegation also comprised Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan and Malaysian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Badli Hisham Adam.
Malaysia and the Maldives have maintained diplomatic relations since 1968.
-- BERNAMA