Maldives and Azerbaijan sign visa exemption and tourism cooperation agreements

The Maldives and Azerbaijan have signed two significant bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening their cooperation. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives, Dr. Abdulla Khaleel, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jayhun Bayramov, signed the agreements following their meeting in Baku on the sidelines of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties. The first agreement, titled “Agreement on Mutual Exemption of Visa Requirement for Holders of Diplomatic, Service, and Official Passports,” aims to facilitate travel between the two countries. Once implemented, this exemption will allow Maldivian diplomats and officials to enter, transit through, and stay in Azerbaijan for up to 90 days. The two governments also expressed their commitment to considering a broader visa exemption for all Maldivians in the future. The second agreement was a “Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism,” which focuses on promoting mutual tourism development, recognizing the sector’s importance to the economic, cultural, and social growth of both nations. During their discussions, Minister Khaleel highlighted the strong bonds of friendship between the Maldives and Azerbaijan, emphasizing the significance of these agreements in further enhancing bilateral relations. He noted that they would promote people-to-people connections, strengthen cultural ties, and foster tourism cooperation for mutual benefit. He also reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to continued collaboration in multilateral forums.