The Government of the Republic of Maldives and the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia issue the following joint statement on the occasion of the inaugural Maldives-Australia Senior Officials Talks.
The Government of Maldives and the Government of Australia convened the inaugural Senior Officials Talks today in Malé, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation between the two nations.
The talks were led by Her Excellency Fathimath Inaya, Foreign Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives, and Her Excellency Sarah Storey, First Assistant Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia. Officials from relevant Maldivian and Australian government agencies also participated, and the dialogue built on parallel inaugural Defence Policy Talks held on 23 September 2024.
Maldives and Australia expressed their commitment to fostering a mutually beneficial partnership, rooted in shared values and common goals. The talks focused on a number of thematic areas, including enhancing the strong bilateral relationship and cooperation between the Maldives and Australia. Key areas of mutual interest were explored, such as governance, democracy, trade, tourism, climate change, defence, security, and development cooperation.
Maldives and Australia recognized the importance of enhancing economic ties and agreed to explore opportunities for collaboration in various sectors, including development, trade, and tourism. The senior officials emphasized the potential for increased trade flows and investment, benefiting both economies and fostering sustainable development.
In addressing global challenges, Maldives and Australia reaffirmed their commitment to combatting climate change and promoting environmental conservation. Collaborative initiatives in attracting development partners for renewable energy and conservation were identified as priority areas for future cooperation.
The talks also underscored the significance of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Maldives and Australia showed dedication to work together on issues such as maritime and aviation security and safety, border management, Cyber Security, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, and counterterrorism efforts, recognizing that a secure environment is essential for prosperity and progress.
Officials agreed to explore policing collaboration between the Maldives Police Service and Australia to build resilience and stability in the region.
Officials discussed ways in which relationships between the Australian Border Force (ABF), Australia’s border law enforcement agency, and the border and civil maritime security (CMS) agencies of the Maldives could be strengthened to enhance border management and maritime domain awareness.
The talks noted activity to develop MOUs between respective agencies and a new initiative of the ABF College through the ABF-DFAT Indian Ocean Maritime Security Project. This project will seek to build capability in the CMS agencies of the Maldives through bespoke training that will focus on the UN Convention on Law of the Sea, maritime domain awareness, and leadership.
Cultural exchange was highlighted as a vital component of our partnership, with plans to enhance already strong people-to-people connections through educational programmes, trainings, and community engagement across the islands.
Maldives emphasized the importance of strengthening democratic institutions and practices, recognizing that a robust governance framework is essential for fostering trust and collaboration. Strategies for enhancing transparency and accountability, which are crucial for building public confidence in governmental processes, were further discussed. Both nations expressed their firm commitment to upholding human rights and rule of law.
Maldives highlighted that the opening of the resident High Commission of Australia in Maldives was a significant development in relations between the countries and expressed appreciation for the Australian government’s support to the formulation of the Maldives’ 20-year National Development Plan.
As a result of today’s fruitful discussions, senior officials of the Maldives and Australia committed to enhancing dialogue and cooperation, with the aim of holding regular talks in the future to further deepen the relationship.
Australia and Maldives expressed their appreciation for the constructive engagement during this inaugural meeting and look forward to building on the groundwork laid today.