Minister of Foreign Affairs concludes Official visit to Japan

Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Abdulla Shahid, has departed Tokyo this evening, after concluding an official visit to Japan. During this visit, Minister Shahid was accompanied by the Minister of Finance, His Excellency Ibrahim Ameer, and the Minister of Economic Development, His Excellency Uz Fayyaz Ismail. The visit marks the first official visit by the administration to East Asia.

While in Tokyo, the Ministers paid a courtesy call on His Excellency Mr Taro Aso, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Japan. Foreign Minister Shahid also met with his counterpart, His Excellency Taro Kono, the Foreign Minister of Japan. This is the fourth time that foreign ministers of the two countries have met over the past twelve months. During these meetings, discussions focused on ways of further strengthening the historic, close and friendly ties that have always existed between the Maldives and Japan, and exploring ways to further this relationship.

Minister Shahid also met with His Excellency Yoshiaki Harada, Minister of Environment, His Excellency Hiroshige Seko, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Governor of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), the President of Japan External Trade Organisation and key business corporations in Japan.

These meetings advanced the key priority issues in the bilateral relations between the Maldives and Japan, in support of mutual efforts to further invigorate the deep-rooted ties between the Maldives and Japan.

Towards the conclusion of the visit, the delegation also participated in a Press Conference at Japan Press Club.

This visit also follows at the heels of the high level visit of His Excellency Mr Kentaro Sonoura, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Japan to the Maldives from 3-4 December 2018, who was accompanied by a delegation of fifteen senior officials across various Ministries of Japan.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs His Excellency Ahmed Khaleel, Ambassador of Maldives to Japan, His Excellency Ibrahim Uvais, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also accompanied the Ministers during the official meetings.

Source; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Maldives