Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday on a three-day visit to Pakistan, according to a statement from his office.
Muizzu is visiting Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The visit marks the first by a Maldivian president to Pakistan in 11 years, and comes as the two countries celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1966.
According to the statement, the Maldivian president and first lady were accorded a 21-gun salute upon their arrival at Islamabad International Airport.
“The president will be accorded an official welcome tomorrow at Prime Minister House, the official residence of the prime minister of Pakistan,” it added.
Later, Muizzu took to X and expressed appreciation for the government and “brotherly people” of Pakistan for their warmth and ceremonial welcome on his first state visit to the country.
“I look forward to fruitful engagements that will further deepen our bilateral relations, strengthen our partnership, and advance the shared aspirations of our two nations,” he wrote.
An earlier statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) said Muizzu will meet President Asif Ali Zardari, who will host a state banquet in his honour.
He will also hold “restricted and delegation-level” talks with PM Shehbaz, the FO said.
During the talks, the two leaders will “review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and explore avenues for further strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, health, education, tourism, agriculture, defence, maritime security, climate change and people-to-people exchanges”.
They will also exchange views on regional and international developments of mutual interest, according to the FO.
A Pakistan-Maldives Business Forum will also be held during the visit to promote interaction between the two countries’ business communities and explore opportunities for trade and investment.
“A number of agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) covering diverse areas of bilateral cooperation are expected to be signed during the visit,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Maldivian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam and comprising cabinet ministers and senior officials, arrived in Islamabad earlier on Tuesday ahead of President Muizzu’s arrival, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement.
The delegation was received at the airport by the FO spokesperson, Director General (South Asia and Saarc), the Maldivian high commissioner to Pakistan and the Pakistani high commissioner to the Maldives.
In 2015, former Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom undertook a two-day state visit to Pakistan on May 6-7 at the invitation of then-premier Nawaz Sharif.
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