President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, on Monday evening, concluded his official visit to Qatar. Accompanied by First Lady Fazna Ahmed and a high-level delegation, the President arrived in Doha late Sunday night.
Monday afternoon, President Solih met the Amir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, at the Amiri Diwan, the Amir’s Administrative Office. The two leaders discussed ways of strengthening the bilateral bond between the two countries. The Maldives has long recognised Qatar for its generosity and invaluable contributions to the Maldives’ socio-economic development. The President and the Amir discussed the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in their respective countries. The President noted that Covid-19 has illustrated to the Maldives the need to expedite the diversification of its economy and to focus on building more resilience through decentralisation and sustainable development. He praised the measures taken by the Qatari government to contain the spread of the pandemic, noting it has one of the lowest mortality rates in the world.
The two leaders further discussed facilitating good bilateral relations and increase mutual investment opportunities, in addition to a range of other matters of mutual benefit. Following the meeting, President Solih and his delegation attended an official lunch hosted in his honour by His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.
First Lady Fazna Ahmed was honoured with a private lunch hosted by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, the Qatari Amir’s spouse. In the evening, the President and the First Lady toured the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, which houses one of the most comprehensive Islamic art collections in the world.
The President and his delegation will travel next to Bangladesh, where he is to attend the ceremony commemorating the ‘Birth Centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.’
