News Desk
SINGAPORE — President Dr Mohamed Muizzu met with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday, marking a significant moment in the two nations’ 50-year diplomatic relationship during a state visit that underscored shared goals and deepened cooperation. The leaders held talks, focusing on strengthening economic and environmental ties.
President Muizzu and Prime Minister Wong highlighted the contributions of Singaporean businesses to the Maldives’ tourism sector, a cornerstone of its economy. They discussed expanding fisheries exports to new markets and supporting the Maldives’ goal of generating 33 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2028 through potential Singaporean investments.
Education and urban planning were also key topics. The leaders explored cooperation in basic schooling, human capital development, and technical expertise in urban design. As small island states, they agreed to enhance collaboration on multilateral platforms to amplify their voices on shared challenges, particularly climate change, which threatens low-lying nations like theirs.
These agreements, witnessed by President Muizzu and Prime Minister Wong, covered capacity building, environmental cooperation between the Maldives’ Ministry of Tourism and Environment and Singapore’s Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, and collaboration in higher education, technical training, and research between Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education and the Maldives’ Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development.
Later that evening, President Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed attended a state banquet hosted by Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and First Lady Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam.
The event, attended by cabinet ministers and senior officials from both nations, celebrated the golden jubilee of diplomatic relations, formally established on February 20, 1975.
In his remarks, President Muizzu expressed gratitude for Singapore’s hospitality and reflected on the deep ties predating formal relations, rooted in trade and people-to-people exchanges. He acknowledged Singapore’s support in humanitarian aid, public administration, and technical capacity-building, expressing optimism for future collaboration.
President Shanmugaratnam emphasized the importance of mutual learning, citing the Maldives’ expertise in luxury tourism and Singapore’s strengths in finance and trade. He welcomed the new agreements and stressed the need for small island states to work together on global issues like climate resilience.
Earlier, the two presidents unveiled commemorative stamp designs marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, a symbolic gesture highlighting the enduring partnership.
The state visit, President Muizzu’s first to Singapore, reinforces the close friendship between the two nations and sets the stage for expanded cooperation in the years ahead.
