In a landmark State Visit, President Wavel Ramkalawan of the Republic of Seychelles visited the Republic of Maldives from June 11 to June 14, 2023, at the invitation of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The visit, the first of its kind between the two nations, underscores their shared commitment to strengthen bilateral ties and harness the potential for a strategic partnership.
President Ramkalawan arrived in Malé, the capital of the Maldives, on June 12, where he was greeted with a ceremonial welcome. The visit signifies the deep-rooted historical, socio-economic, and cultural bonds between the Maldives and Seychelles as neighboring countries in the Indian Ocean.
During the Official Talks held on June 12, President Solih and President Ramkalawan engaged in fruitful discussions in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Both leaders expressed their eagerness to elevate bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, building upon President Solih’s successful State Visit to Seychelles in August 2019. President Solih conveyed his gratitude for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation during his previous visit.
The visit witnessed high-level interactions between officials of both countries. Vice President Faisal Naseem, Speaker of the People’s Majlis and Former President Mohamed Nasheed, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid paid courtesy calls on President Ramkalawan. President Solih hosted a State Banquet in honor of the visiting President and his delegation.
Both leaders emphasized the importance of people-to-people contacts, cultural exchanges, and economic linkages. They recognized the vital role of youth in enhancing bilateral cooperation and agreed to increase exchange opportunities and foster camaraderie between the two nations. Given their status as internationally acclaimed tourist destinations, the leaders pledged to collaborate and exchange experiences in the field of tourism. This collaboration will include vocational training, job enrichment, and the development of human resources in the tourism sectors of both countries.
As fellow Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and active members of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), the Maldives and Seychelles reiterated their commitment to addressing the adverse impacts of climate change. They emphasized the need for global mechanisms to combat climate change effectively. The leaders also expressed their dedication to operationalize the Loss and Damage Fund, a hard-won achievement, at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28).
Recognizing the importance of the Indian Ocean for sustainable development, both leaders agreed to collaborate closely in the areas of blue economy and marine conservation. They pledged to jointly promote blue economy initiatives in international forums. Additionally, President Solih and President Ramkalawan reaffirmed their commitment to the security of the Indian Ocean Region and agreed to enhance cooperation in maritime security, counterterrorism, combatting illegal fishing, piracy, and drug trafficking. This cooperation will extend to bilateral and multilateral platforms, particularly within the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
In their discussions, the leaders stressed the significance of assessing Small Island Developing States (SIDS) based on their vulnerabilities rather than solely their GDP per capita. They reiterated the importance of creating a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) for SIDS, an essential step in recognizing and addressing their unique challenges.
The leaders agreed to enhance multilateral cooperation, particularly through collaboration at the United Nations. They expressed appreciation for each other’s support on various international initiatives and candidatures. President Solih thanked President Ramkalawan for Seychelles’ support for Maldives’ candidatures to the United Nations Security Council and the Economic and Social Council.
Building upon the agreements concluded during President Solih’s State Visit to Seychelles in 2019,