Speaker Abdul Raheem heads to China for interregional seminar

Maldivian Parliament’s Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla departed for China on Saturday night to attend the 2024 Interregional Seminar on the Achievements of the SDGs for Parliaments of Developing Countries.

This marks Abdul Raheem’s first international seminar in his capacity as Speaker.

He is accompanied on the trip by Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau, Vilimale’ MP Mohamed Ismail and Hulhudhoo MP Mohamed Shahid.

All three are top officials from the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), in which Abdul Raheem serves as chairperson.

The 2024 Interregional Seminar is co-organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the National People's Congress of China.

It will provide a selected number of parliaments from developing countries with the opportunity to discuss ways to accelerate the implementation of sustainable development goals through parliamentary cooperation.

The event will also include a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the accession of the National People’s Congress of China to the IPU.

"2024 އިންޓަރރީޖަނަލް ސެމިނަރ އޮން ދަ އެޗީވްމެންޓް އޮފް ދަ އެސްޑީޖީސް ފޯރ ޕާލަމެންޓްސް އޮފް ޑެވެލޮޕިންގ ކަންޓްރީސް"ގައި ބައިވެރިވެވަޑައިގަތުމަށް، ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ ރައީސް، އޮނަރަބަލް ޢަބްދުއްރަޙީމް ޢަބްދުﷲ ޗައިނާއަށް ފުރާވަޑައިގެންފި pic.twitter.com/ZLOI5ECR7I

— People's Majlis (@mvpeoplesmajlis) August 17, 2024

The seminar will be followed by a field visit to other provinces in China.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and several members of his cabinet have made official visits to China since the new Maldivian administration took office in November last year. However, this marks the first official visit by Abdul Raheem, seen as President Muizzu’s closest aide.

President Muizzu is often portrayed in the international media as “pro-China.” However, he insists that he is “pro-Maldives”, and will foster close relations with all countries that respect Maldives’ sovereignty.