Luanda — Angola and the Maldives expressed their interest on Friday in Malé in strengthening bilateral cooperation in the political, diplomatic, economic and commercial spheres, as well as in stepping up diplomatic coordination in international forums.
The commitment was expressed during a working meeting between Angola's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Téte António, and the Maldives' Minister of Foreign Affairs, Iruthisham Adam, in which the parties reviewed the current state of relations between the two countries and identified new areas for cooperation.
At the conclusion of the talks, according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent to ANGOP, the two diplomats agreed to hold, on a date to be determined, Political Consultations between Angola and the Maldives, as well as to promote high-level official visits and to assess mechanisms for implementing visa exemptions for citizens of both states.
The delegations also expressed interest in updating the bilateral legal framework through the negotiation and signing of new cooperation instruments, with a particular focus on the tourism and diplomatic training sectors.
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In this context, the parties advocated the establishment of partnerships between the diplomatic academies of the Angolan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Maldivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the multilateral level, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening diplomatic coordination and mutual support regarding candidacies for international organisations, with a particular focus on the United Nations.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange information on the domestic situation in each country, with a focus on their respective economic and social development programmes.
On the occasion, the Maldivian minister presented an overview of the archipelago, particularly its strategic location in the Indian Ocean, its composition of some 1,190 islands spread across 26 natural atolls, a population of over half a million inhabitants, and an economy based primarily on tourism, fishing and services.
The meeting reflected the shared desire to deepen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the Republic of Angola and the Republic of the Maldives. ART/DAN/DOJ
