26 October 2019, Ref: 2019-848

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has visited Hiroshima today, where he met with the Mayor and visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. President Solih, accompanied by First Lady Fazna Ahmed, visited Hiroshima as part of his ongoing official visit to Japan.

The President was welcomed upon arrival at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum by Matsui Kazumi, the Mayor of Hiroshima. During the visit, the President toured the museum and laid a wreath at the Memorial Cenotaph and signed the guestbook.

The Maldives and Japan closely cooperate in the international fora, and the Maldives is a strong supporter of international efforts towards disarmament and non-proliferation in addition to the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. The Maldives is also party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Source: The President's Office

24 October 2019, Ref: 2019-845

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has visited the Maritime Disaster Prevention Centre (MDPC) in Yokosuka City, Japan. The President, along with the First Lady, toured the centre this morning as part of his current official visit to Japan. 

President Solih was welcomed upon arrival at the facility by Najajma Satoshi, the President of MDPC. During the visit, the President also met with five members of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) training at the facility and inquired about their progress and experiences. The management and representatives from MDPC also briefed President Solih on emergency management, response mechanisms and training for disaster preparedness exercised in Japan. 

President Solih also toured the Oil Spill Control Training Station and Coast Cleaning Training site. MDPC has a state-of-the-art training department targeting oil spill control, firefighting, chemical and Hazardous Noxious Substance (NHS) control, and includes the Daini-Kaihou—a hazardous material response and firefighting training facility.

Japan, an island nation similar to the Maldives, is prone to natural disasters including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and typhoons; the destructive implications of theses recurring natural disasters led to the enhancement of its emergency management system. 

Along with organisational changes and the integration of the latest technological advancements, Japan represents one of the most holistic disaster management systems in the world. The two island countries are currently working on finalising the 'Building Climate Resilient Safer Islands in the Maldives' project through the Green Climate Fund. 

The Malé seawall construction project has been a living symbol of the friendly relations between Japan and Maldives in the area of disaster preparedness. Some recent developments in this arena include Japanese grant aid to acquire a fireboat and a landing craft, grant aid to procure equipment and materials for oil spill prevention, and donation of disaster reduction equipment to the Maldives.

Source: The President's Office

23 October 2019, Ref: 2019-843

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has attended the official banquet hosted by the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzō Abe. The banquet, held at Hotel New Otani, was hosted in honour of the high-level attendees visiting the enthronement ceremony of the Emperor of Japan, and is an opportunity for world leaders to network and strengthen multilateral partnerships.

President Solih is visiting the country upon a special invitation from the government of Japan, for the enthronement ceremony of the new Emperor of Japan, Naruhito. The President is accompanied by First Lady Fazna Ahmed on the official trip to Japan.

Heads of state and other dignitaries from more than 170 countries gathered to witness the official enthronement ceremony of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Naruhito.

Source: The President's Office