President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has conveyed gratitude of the government and the people of the Maldives to the Government of Turkey for the 20,000 doses of Sinovac to be provided to support the COVID-19 inoculation drive in the Maldives. The gesture was made during a courtesy call by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on President Solih.
At the meeting held at the President's Office, President Solih welcomed the Minister Çavuşoğlu and conveyed well wishes to the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Minister Çavuşoğlu also conveyed well wishes to President Solih on behalf of the President Erdoğan.
During the discussions, the president and the foreign minister spoke extensively about the existing bilateral ties between the two allies, underlining that last year marked the 42nd anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries. The president also stated that the Minister Çavuşoğlu's visit to the Maldives denotes the importance Turkey places on enhancing the bilateral ties between both countries.
Furthermore, they deliberated on a variety of matters of mutual interest and value to both countries, including enhancing trade, air connectivity, tourism cooperation, fisheries sector development, infrastructure development, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and combating terrorism, radicalisation, and violent extremism.
The meeting concluded with President Solih and Minister Çavuşoğlu expressing their mutual commitment to continue working together for the common good of both countries.
The diplomatic relations between the Maldives and Turkey were established on May 28, 1979.