Mal©: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's official visit to the Maldives is expected to give fresh impetus to Malaysia-Maldives bilateral ties, while providing opportunities to expand cooperation in trade and investment, education, tourism, defence, and Islamic affairs.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Badli Hisham Adam mentioned that Anwar's inaugural two-day official visit to the republic, beginning today, would focus on strengthening existing cooperation and exploring new areas of potential benefit to both countries. He highlighted that the Prime Minister and Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu would assess the progress of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues of common interest.
Both leaders are set to assess the long-standing bilateral cooperation between the two countries and explore new areas of cooperation in fields like trade and investment, education, tourism, defence, and Islamic affairs. Anwar and Muizzu are also scheduled to witness the exchange of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on defence cooperation and Islamic affairs.
Badli Hisham noted that the visit serves as a reciprocal visit following Muizzu's official visit to Malaysia in April 2025. The visit aims to lay a stronger foundation for expanding more dynamic, progressive, and forward-looking bilateral cooperation. As part of the visit, Anwar will be accorded an official welcoming ceremony at Republic Square before engaging in a tªte- -tªte with Muizzu, followed by a meeting between delegations from both countries.
The highlight of the visit includes a joint press conference by the two leaders and an official luncheon hosted by Muizzu in honor of the Prime Minister. Malaysia and the Maldives established diplomatic relations in 1968, with both nations committed to deepening bilateral ties, strengthening economic cooperation, and fostering closer people-to-people relations.
In 2025, the Maldives was Malaysia's sixth-largest trading partner in South Asia. It also ranked sixth as a destination for Malaysian exports and a source of Malaysian imports in the region, with total bilateral trade valued at RM792 million. Malaysia's exports to the Maldives amounted to RM786.2 million, with petroleum products accounting for 31.6 percent of total exports.