President returns after concluding his state visit to Australia

President Mohamed Nasheed has returned to Male’ after concluding his state visit to Australia. The President made the visit at an invitation of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

During the visit, President Nasheed met with Prime Minister Rudd, and Australian Governor-General Quentin Bryce. He also held talks with other senior officials of the Australian government as well as Deputy Leader of the Opposition Liberal Party Julie Bishop.

During the President’s visit, Australian government announced a new aid and assistance package for the Maldives.

The assistance package includes AUD 500,000 (US$ 425,000) to help the Maldives adapt to climate change and reduce carbon emissions, AUD 300,000 to support civil society groups and AUD 230,000 to support the Maldives national qualification framework.

Australia also announced that it would help strengthen education, environment, science, health, governance and public administration in the Maldives as well as support capacity-building for the country’s fledgling democratic institutions.

Australia said it will offer 25 scholarships in the 2011 intake, for Maldivian students to study in Australian universities.

Speaking at a joint press conference between President Nasheed and Prime Minister Rudd, held after their meeting, the Australian Prime Minister said:

“This is about helping the Maldives build a better future for itself. Although a small country, [the Maldives] are a part of the family of democracies around the world, and we stand shoulder to shoulder with them as a fellow democracy.”

While in Canberra, President Nasheed also met with the Maldivian students in Canberra.

Before concluding his visit, the President also visited Sydney and met with New South Wales Governor Marie Bashir and Deputy Premier of New South Wales Carmel Tebbutt.

In this week’s radio address, which he gave from Canberra, the President said Australian government has increased its assistance to the Maldives. He also said he held in-depth exchange of views and fruitful discussions with the Prime Minister Rudd and other senior officials of Australian government.