The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives, Dr Abdulla Khaleel, held official talks with his Egyptian counterpart, Dr Badr Abdelatty, in Cairo, reaffirming the strong and historic ties between the two nations.
The meeting, held at Tahrir Palace, underscored the longstanding relationship between the Maldives and Egypt, founded on shared values and strengthened through deep-rooted religious and cultural connections. Both sides expressed commitment to expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.
Minister Khaleel conveyed appreciation for Egypt’s continued support in education and human resource development, highlighting the significant role of scholarships from Al-Azhar University that have benefitted generations of Maldivian students. The discussion also explored potential collaboration in health and the exchange of technical expertise.
The two Ministers discussed prospects for enhancing economic and trade relations, including cooperation in agriculture and food security, and noted the potential for growth in tourism through increased connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.
Turning to regional and global developments, Minister Khaleel commended Egypt’s steadfast leadership in supporting the Palestinian cause and reiterated the Maldives’ unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people in their pursuit of an independent state within the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He also praised Egypt for successfully hosting the recent Gaza Peace Summit, which resulted in a ceasefire agreement, describing it as a key step towards easing civilian suffering and fostering prospects for long-term peace in the region.
Both Ministers reaffirmed their countries’ shared commitment to continued cooperation on the multilateral stage, particularly in promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development.
The meeting concluded with both parties expressing confidence that relations between the Maldives and Egypt, spanning more than five decades, will continue to deepen, delivering mutual benefits for both nations.
