The Ambassadors and High Commissioners of eight countries present their credentials to the President

The newly appointed Ambassadors of Mongolia, France, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Serbia, the Hellenic Republic, the Republic of Slovenia, and the High Commissioners of the Republic of Namibia and Canada presented their credentials to H.E. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Sunday. The Ambassadors and High Commissioners presented their credentials to President Solih at a ceremony held at the President's Office.

Following the ceremony, H.E. President Solih met with H.E. Ganbold Dambajav, the Ambassador of Mongolia to the Republic of Maldives; H.E. Jean-François Pactet, the Ambassador of France to the Republic of Maldives; H.E. Levan Dzhagaryan, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Maldives; H.E. Siniša Pavić, the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the Republic of Maldives; H.E. Dimitrios Loannu, the Ambassador of Hellenic Republic to the Republic of Maldives; H.E. Mateja Vodeb Ghosh, the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the Republic of Maldives; H.E. Gabriel P. Sinimbo, the High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia to the Republic of Maldives; and, H.E. Eric Walsh, the High Commissioner of Canada to the Republic of Maldives.

Speaking at the meeting, President Solih noted the essential roles the accredited High Commissioners and Ambassadors played in strengthening and sustaining bilateral relations between the Maldives and other nations. He also stated that in the past four years, his administration had been able to realise the developmental aspirations of the people and that it had relied on the power of diplomacy and international cooperation based on the three pillars of the Maldives' foreign policy: promotion and protection of human rights, consolidating democracy, and championing climate diplomacy, in fulfilling this commitment.

President Solih also highlighted the necessary fiscal policy changes the administration was undertaking to mitigate the impacts of Covid-19 on the Maldivian economy. Speaking about the importance of increasing people-to-people contact, the President noted that enabling more accessible travel would encourage cultural exchanges, strengthen economic ties, and build everlasting bridges of peace, prosperity, and progress.

The President stated that the Maldives grants on-arrival visas, irrespective of country, and expressed hope for ease of travel for Maldivians by the respective countries soon. In conclusion, President Solih voiced hope that the relations between the Maldives and the respective nations would be strengthened during their terms.