President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, on Monday, held an audience with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, heir apparent to the Abu Dhabi throne.
During the meeting, held this morning at the Crown Prince's Palace, the two were joined by the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Reportedly, the dialogue between President Solih and Crown Prince Al Nahyan included exchanging information on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the respective situations in Maldives and Abu Dhabi.
On this note, President Solih applauded the UAE's leadership in partnering with other countries to bolster global efforts to curb the virus' spread, expressing his admiration for innovative technological strategies deployed by the UAE Government in their pandemic-response.
The leaders also discussed ongoing development projects in the Maldives, carried out with the UAE Government's assistance, through the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD).
Re-emphasising his appreciation to the UAE for the generous assistance provided to the Maldives over the years, the President's spokesperson revealed that President Solih initiated discussions on further enhancing cooperation between their nations, as well as exploring additional areas for collaboration
In response, Crown Prince Al Nahyan reassured Maldives of his commitment for continuous support to the archipelago, particularly with regards to developmental projects in the fisheries, food security, transportation and tourism sectors that have already been commenced.
On March 9, 2020, the Maldives and ADFD signed a Memorandum of Understanding granting US$50 million as budget support to the Maldives. Velana International Airport and Maafaru International Airport development projects are key infrastructure projects funded by UAE.
Far prior to above, since the late 1970s, the UAE has on numerous occasions, solidified its position as a vital development partner to Maldives.
According to the apex office, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is currently on a personal visit to UAE. .
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