21 May 2008
President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and the Japanese Ambassador to the Maldives Mr Kiyoshi Araki today laid the foundation stone of the second girls school in Male’, the capital of the Maldives.
Speaking at the function, the President recognised the generous assistance Japan has been offering to the Maldives for its development. He said that the school would enhance opportunities for education of girls, and added that the school would symbolise the growing closeness in the relationship between the two countries. He thanked the Government and the people of Japan for the continued assistance.
The Minister of Education, Hon. Zahiya Zareer, and Ambassador Araki also addressed the gathering at the foundation stone laying ceremony.
The President as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs received Ambassador Araki at their respective offices today. They discussed the cordial relations between the two countries and future Japanese development assistance to the Maldives.
The Maldives has signed two MOUs with Qatar on 15th May 2008, one on cooperation between the Foreign Ministries of the Maldives and Qatar, and the other on cooperation in the field of tourism between the two countries.
The MOU on cooperation between the Foreign Ministries is aimed at strengthening bilateral contacts and dialogue on issues of mutual interest, including those pertaining to international peace and security.
The MOU on cooperation in the filed of tourism is designed at creating favourable conditions for the tourist traffic of both nationalities, including the introduction of simpler procedures for them to visit the other country.
Both the MOUs were signed for the Government of Maldives by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Abdulla Shahid, while the MOU on cooperation between the Foreign Ministries was signed for the Government of Qatar by the Minster of State for Foreign Affairs, H. E. Mr Ahmad bin Abdulla Al-Mahmoud, and the MOU on cooperation in the field of tourism was signed for the Government of Qatar by the Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Exhibition Authority, H. E. Mr Ahmed Al-Nuaimi.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Abdulla Shahid was in Qatar on a two-day official visit.
President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and the Japanese Ambassador to the Maldives Mr Kiyoshi Araki today laid the foundation stone of the second girls school in Male’, the capital of the Maldives.
