President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, on Monday, returned to Maldives following his participation in the 74th Annual Session of the United States General Assembly (UNGA), in New York, USA.
As the first Maldivian Head of State to address the UNGA in the past seven years, President Solih assured that Maldives will "continue to partner with our many international friends with a renewed spirit of openness and engagement so that together we can overcome obstacles and effectively resolve our common challenges".
During his visit, the President presented Maldives' 'Climate Smart Resilient Islands Initiative', which focuses on achieving eleven key environment-related targets and declared his decision to phase out single-use plastic by 2023.
Further, Maldives entered into a partnership with the 'Blue Prosperity Coalition'. Under the agreement, the two parties will devise a six-year programme to ensure the sustainability of Maldivian waters and marine environment, including territorial seas, archipelagic seas and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Moreover, while giving his address at the ‘Leaders’ Dialogue: Strategic Responses to Terrorist and Violent Extremism’ session, he pledged Maldives’ support to the Christchurch Call, an initiative against using the internet for violent extremism and terrorism.
At the sidelines, President Solih met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and agreed on cooperation across various sectors including development and infrastructural projects, and economic cooperation.
In addition, he met UN Secretary General Antonio Guteres, and Saudi Arabian Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf.
The President's departure for the UNGA commemorates the 54th anniversary of the country becoming a member of the intergovernmental body. Maldives joined the UN on September 21, 1965, in under two months after it first gained independence.
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