MALDIVIAN Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer said the country was looking forward to strengthening its ties with Malaysia.

He said this while congratulating his Malaysian counterpart Mohamad Hasan, who was recently appointed to the portfolio.

“It gives me great pleasure to extend to Your Excellency my sincere congratulations on your appointment as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia,” Moosa said in a message today.

“The Maldives greatly values our historical ties and close friendship, characterised by the common values we cherish, based on the mutual respect and goodwill between our two countries and the peoples,” he said.

“The bonds of friendship and close people-to-people contact has paved the way for greater collaboration in a number of areas, including in economic and social (aspects). Malaysia remains a favoured destination for a growing number of Maldivians for education and tourism,” Moosa said.

Moosa said he was looking forward to working closely with Mohamad to further expand “the enduring ties of friendship between Maldives and Malaysia with constructive engagements in areas of mutual benefit”.

Mohamad was appointed to the foreign affairs portfolio in a cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim yesterday. – Bernama, December 13, 2023.