Maldives top diplomat pays courtesy call on Deputy PM of Japan

Maldives' Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Japan, Taro Aso, on Thursday.

Minister Shahid and Deputy Prime Minister Aso discussed various aspects of the bilateral ties between the two countries at a meeting held at the Japanese finance ministry.

Aso vowed that the Japan will support President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's vision to expand the economic and social development of Maldives, while Shahid thanked the Japanese government for the close and friendly manner in which the Asian power has always regarded the archipelago.

Shahid also met with the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, Hiroshige Seko, to exchange views on strengthening the economic cooperation between Maldives and Japan.

The minister further thanked Seko for Japan's generous assistance to the island nation under the former's Economic and Social Development Programmes.

He had also met with the Minister of Environment of Japan, Yoshiaki Harada, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Taro Kono, earlier the same day.

Shahid is currently on an official visit to Japan, accompanied by a high level delegation, including Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer, Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel, Ambassador of Maldives to Japan Ibrahim Uvais, and officials of the foreign ministry.