President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated the ties that bind Commonwealth nations together have been strongly reflected in the support provided amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The President made the remarks in a message of felicitations commemorating this year's Commonwealth Day.
In his message, President Solih said on this Commonwealth Day, member states celebrate their shared values and strong bonds, uniting people over 54 countries and across 6 continents. The President said this year’s theme, ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’, reflects the strong ties that bind our commonwealth family of 2.4 billion people together. He noted these ties have been strongly evident throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, in the support and goodwill towards one another in these extraordinary and difficult circumstances.
President Solih further highlighted it has now been one year since the Maldives re-joined the Commonwealth, adding the Maldives is proud of all that have been accomplished together within this short time period. The President stated the Commonwealth has always been a champion of its member states, from the most populous to small island states. He said the Maldives in turn rely on the Commonwealth to help achieve the nation’s goals such as adapting to the climate emergency, by building stronger and more resilient communities. He added the Maldives is exceptionally grateful for the role the Commonwealth plays in advocating for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
Concluding his message, the President stated he looks forward to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda, where he hopes to advance common interests and contribute to solving common challenge of Commonwealth nations.
The Maldives rejoined the Commonwealth on February 1, 2020. President Solih stated re-joining the organisation is symbolic of this administration’s commitment to engage with the international community and to deliver on domestic pledges to citizens in good faith.