Kuala lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim departed for home today after concluding his two-day official visit to the Maldives. The special aircraft carrying Anwar and the Malaysian delegation departed from Velana International Airport at 3.10 pm local time (6.10 pm Malaysian time). Maldives Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam was at the airport to bid farewell to the Prime Minister and the Malaysian delegation.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, had been in the Maldives since yesterday at the invitation of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, marking his first visit to the Indian Ocean island republic since he became Prime Minister in November 2022. During the visit, Anwar was accorded a full ceremonial welcome before holding a one-on-one meeting with Muizzu at the President's Office, followed by a meeting between the delegations of the two countries.

The two leaders also witnessed the exchange of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in the fields of defence and Islamic affairs, as well as held a joint press conference. Anwar also received courtesy calls from Maldives Vice-President Hussain Mohamed Latheef, People's Majlis Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla, and Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam at Niva Kurumba, and attended an official luncheon hosted by Muizzu.

Throughout the visit, the leaders of both countries also expressed their commitment to expanding cooperation in various fields, including trade and investment, defence, the digital economy, renewable energy, tourism, and human capital development. The Malaysian delegation also comprised Investment, Trade and Industry Minister, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani; Human Resources Minister, Datuk Seri R. Ramanan; and Malaysian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Badli Hisham Adam.

Malaysia and the Maldives have maintained diplomatic relations since 1968, with Anwar's visit reflecting the commitment of both countries to further strengthen bilateral ties and explore new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.