ISLAMABAD: The Presi­dent of the Maldives, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, arrived here on Wednesday on a two-day visit during which he would seek to expand bilateral ties.

Mr Gayoom was given a warm reception on his arrival at the Nur Khan Airbase, where Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accompanied by some ministers received him.

This is Mr Gayoom’s first visit to Pakistan and the first by a Maldivian leader to Islamabad in 11 years. In January 2004, then president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom visited Pakistan to attend Saarc summit.

Mr Gayoom opened the two-day visit with a meeting with Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and later called on President Mamnoon Hussain, who also hosted a banquet in his honour.

He will hold a meeting with Prime Minister Sharif on Thursday.

During the visit, the two countries would review the different aspects of their relationship, besides signing agreements for cooperation in sports, health, education and countering illicit drugs and narcotics trafficking.

President Hussain in his meeting with Mr Gayoom praised the role played by the Maldives in Saarc.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2015

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