Uzbekistan’s first ambassador to the Maldives presents credentials to President Mohamed Muizzu

Following the official ceremony, the two sides held a meeting to discuss the current state and future prospects of Uzbek-Maldivian relations across various fields, including politics, trade and economy, investment, culture and humanitarian cooperation.

Both parties acknowledged the vast potential for expanding bilateral cooperation in different areas of socio-economic development.

President Mohamed Muizzu expressed the Maldives' readiness to further strengthen cooperation with Uzbekistan within the framework of the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and other international and regional organizations. Areas of mutual interest such as climate change, sustainable development, and regional security were highlighted.

Special attention was given to developing partnerships in tourism and higher education. In particular, the two sides discussed opportunities for Maldivian students to pursue studies at universities in Uzbekistan. They also agreed to explore possibilities for launching direct flights between the two countries, simplifying visa procedures, and developing joint tourism packages.

The parties exchanged views on organizing high-level visits, as well as fostering exchanges between business communities and representatives from other sectors.

For reference, Sardor Rustambayev – Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to India and concurrently to the Maldives – arrived in New Delhi in January 2024. Prior to this, he headed Uzbekistan’s diplomatic missions in France and Portugal.