President His Excellency Dr Mohamed Muizzu met with His Excellency Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Racing of New Zealand and Head of Delegation to the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), on the sidelines of the UNGA 79 in New York.

The President and the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Racing of New Zealand engaged in discussions aimed at exploring new avenues for bilateral cooperation, including strengthening people-to-people connections, enhancing trade and investment opportunities, and leveraging the Maldives' strategic geographical location for mutual benefit. The conversation also covered pressing multilateral issues, with both parties emphasising the importance of addressing climate change and finding sustainable solutions to environmental challenges.

The upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, set to take place this October, was also highlighted as a key opportunity for collaboration on global challenges.

Moreover, the President noted the youthful population of the Maldives, expressing the nation’s growing demand for further education opportunities and scholarships. He also extended an invitation to New Zealand investors, highlighting the Maldives’ special economic zones as a prime area for investment.

Concluding the discussions, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening diplomatic ties and advancing strategic cooperation on shared priorities. They expressed a shared determination to work closely to strengthen the partnership between the Maldives and New Zealand.