Minister of Islamic Affairs and Endowments Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has said that the first international forum on Islamic civilisation held in Uzbekistan provided an important opportunity for dialogue on the challenges facing the world today.
He made the remarks in an interview with an Uzbek media outlet.
The minister noted that Uzbekistan is a land with a rich history of scholarship, wisdom and intellectual achievement. He added that both the Maldives and Uzbekistan are members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and share a common bond within the Islamic Ummah.
During the interview, Dr Shaheem highlighted that many young people and tourists from Uzbekistan visit the Maldives for holidays. He described the Maldives as a country renowned worldwide for tourism and said that welcoming visitors is a source of great pride and joy for Maldivians.
He further observed that Uzbekistan is blessed with natural beauty and a rich historical heritage, expressing confidence that the Maldives could support the further development of Uzbekistan’s tourism sector.
Dr Shaheem also said that Uzbekistan has set a positive example for the Islamic world. He praised the country’s efforts to revive Islamic civilisation and preserve its rich historical legacy, noting that the international forum on Islamic civilisation had brought together scholars and intellectuals to discuss contemporary global challenges and exchange ideas.