Anwar arrives in the Maldives for bilateral talks

Male, September 15 — Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is set to meet Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on the first day of his two-day official visit to the island nation. The meeting, scheduled to commence at 9 am local time at the President’s Office, will be the highlight of Anwar’s agenda during his stay. During the formal welcoming ceremony at Republic Square, both leaders are expected to discuss various aspects of strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in areas of trade, investment, and tourism.

They will also exchange perspectives on shared regional and international issues. Following the meeting, the Malaysia-Maldives delegation will convene to explore further steps to enhance cooperation between the two nations. The leaders will also exchange memorandums of understanding (MoUs) covering defense and Islamic affairs, before delivering a joint press conference.

Anwar’s itinerary also includes separate meetings with the Vice President of the Maldives, the Speaker of the People’s Majlis, and the country’s Foreign Minister. He will also attend a press conference with Malaysian media and an official luncheon hosted by Muizzu. Anwar is set to depart for Malaysia from Velana International Airport the following afternoon, concluding his official visit to the Maldives.

Diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the Maldives were established in 1968, with cooperation spanning trade, investment, and people-to-people relations. In 2025, the Maldives ranked as Malaysia’s sixth-largest trading partner in South Asia, with bilateral trade valued at RM792 million. Malaysia exported RM786.2 million worth of goods to the Maldives during the same period.