President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Monday held talks with SAARC Secretary-General Md. Golam Sarwar, with discussions focusing on strengthening regional cooperation and advancing shared priorities among South Asian nations.
The meeting took place at the President’s Office during a farewell call by the Secretary-General as he concludes his tenure at the helm of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
During the meeting, President Muizzu thanked Sarwar for his service to the regional bloc and acknowledged his contribution to promoting cooperation among member states. The President also reaffirmed the Maldives’ continued commitment to supporting SAARC and strengthening its role as a platform for regional collaboration.
According to the President’s Office, the two leaders exchanged views on key SAARC initiatives and discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation among member countries in pursuit of shared development and regional progress.
For his part, Secretary-General Sarwar expressed appreciation for the Maldives’ continued support for the organisation throughout his tenure. He described the Maldives as an important founding member of SAARC and thanked the government for its efforts to advance the association’s objectives.
The meeting concluded with President Muizzu extending his best wishes to the Secretary-General in his future endeavours while expressing confidence that cooperation among SAARC member states would continue to grow.
The Maldives is one of the seven founding members of SAARC, alongside Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The regional organisation was established on 8 December 1985 with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and has since served as a platform for cooperation in areas including economic development, trade, education, health, culture and regional connectivity.
Despite challenges that have slowed the organisation’s activities in recent years, the Maldives has consistently reaffirmed its support for stronger regional engagement through SAARC.
