The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has successfully concluded the 4th Round of Japan-Maldives Policy Dialogue, which was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan today.

The Maldivian delegation was led by His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Khaleel, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and the Japanese Delegation was led by Mr. Arima Yutaka, Director-General, Southeast and Southwest Asian Department. The discussion throughout the dialogue were very productive, drawing upon the solid foundation established during the preceding three rounds of the policy dialogue.

The Dialogue focused on enhancing the already close relations between the two countries, especially through economic and development cooperation, in trade and investment, cultural exchanges, and in regional and maritime cooperation.

Key areas of focus during the dialogue included:

Economic Cooperation: Both nations expressed their commitment to working closely together in order to foster mutual growth and development. The dialogue featured discussions on potential avenues for collaboration, aiming to create a prosperous future for both countries through joint efforts and initiatives.

Regional and International Issues: The two countries addressed pressing regional and global concerns, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. Maldives and Japan also explored opportunities for joint initiatives and partnerships to tackle these challenges, including in a free and open Indian Ocean region.

People-to-People Exchanges: The dialogue emphasized the importance of cultural exchange and educational cooperation, recognizing that these interactions deepen mutual understanding and strengthen the bond between the two nations. Both parties agreed to promote and support more frequent engagements in the fields of arts, culture, sports, and education, furthering the growth of their relationship.

The fourth round of the Maldives-Japan Policy Dialogue demonstrated the commitment of both nations to further enhance their bilateral relations and work together to address shared challenges.

The Policy Dialogue is a platform between Maldives and Japan to discuss important bilateral, regional and multilateral issues. The last Policy Dialogue was held in virtually on 4 March 2021.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Maldives

The Government of Maldives and the Government of Japan is set to hold its 4th Round of Japan-Maldives Policy Dialogue on 4 April 2023, in Tokyo, Japan.

His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Khaleel, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs will lead the Maldives delegation, and the Japanese delegation will be led by Mr. Arima Yutaka, Director-General, Southeast and Southwest Asian Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

During the Policy Dialogue, the two countries will discuss ways to further strengthen existing bilateral ties, including on development and economic cooperation, cultural exchanges and regional cooperation. Both countries will also discuss issues of mutual concern and shared interests in the regional and international sphere.

The Policy Dialogue, which was first held in 2018, has become an important mechanism for the two countries to strengthen their bilateral relationship. The previous rounds of the Policy Dialogue have covered a wide range of issues, including trade and investment, tourism, climate change, maritime security, and people-to-people exchanges.

Maldives and Japan regularly hold bilateral discussions to explore avenues for future cooperation, to exchange ideas and to deliberate on economic cooperation. The last policy dialogue between the two countries were held virtually on 04 March 2021.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Maldives