Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, met with Dunya Maumoon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, yesterday.
At the meeting held at the Foreign Ministry this afternoon, Foreign Minister Dunya welcomed Foreign Minister McCully on his first official visit to the Maldives. Minister Dunya noted the close bilateral relations between the Maldives and New Zealand, and discussed ways of further strengthening the ties between the two countries.
Minister Dunya thanked the Government of New Zealand for the scholarship opportunities provided by New Zealand for Maldivian students and expressed hope that such opportunities would increase in future.
Minister Dunya also noted with appreciation New Zealand’s strong support of small states and the specific challenges in terms of security, environmental degradation and political leverage that small states face in the international arena.
Foreign Minister McCully thanked Minister Dunya for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to Minister McCully and his delegation since their arrival this morning. He assured his commitment to working closely with the Maldives in strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries and on global issues of mutual interest such as security of small states, renewable energy and climate change. Minister McCully while noting with pleasure the number of alumni from New Zealand, expressed hope that more Maldivian students would use the opportunities available to study in New Zealand.
Minister McCully was accompanied by Bernadette Cavanagh, the High Commissioner of New Zealand to the Maldives, Mr. Stephen Harris, Divisional Manager of South and South East Asia Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand, and Mr. Charlie Gillard, Private Secretary to the Foreign Minister.
Minister Dunya was accompanied by Dr. Ali Naseer Mohamed, Foreign Secretary and Abdulla Hameed, Ambassador at Large and Fathimath Inaya, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Maldives and New Zealand will continue to champion the issues of small states
