The government of Japan has invited President Yameen Abdul Gayoom and First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim for an official visit to Japan.
The invitation was extended by Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives Nobuhito Hobo during a courtesy call on President Yameen today.
The President’s Office said that President Yameen will visit Japan in March 2014.
President Yameen thanked the Japanese government for the invitation, and said that he hopes that the relations between Maldives and Japan will strengthen further as a result of this visit.
During the visit, President Yameen will meet Emperor of Japan Akihito, Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe and senior officials of the Japanese government.
The President’s Office highlighted that a Maldivian President has not yet visited Japan on an official invitation of the Japanese government.
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, however, visited Japan on three occasions while in office; to attend former Japanese Emperor Hirohito’s funeral in 1989, to attend Emperor Akihito’s coronation in 1990, and to attend the Millennium Conference of Tourism Leaders held in Osaka in 2001.