Four agreements were exchanged on Monday during the state visit of Seychelles president Wavel Ramkalawan.
A joint statement made by president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and the Seychelles president after bilteral talks provided information about the agreements signed between the countries.
An agreement was signed to allow visa-free travel between the Maldives and Seychelles. The commencement of air travel between the countries was also agreed to foster business and economic ties and to improve travel arrangements.
The agreement would promote the growth of trade between the Maldives and Seychelles and offer the opportunity for tourists to experience the Maldives' "Sunny Side of Life" and Seychelles' "Another World," Solih noted.
The Seychelles president highlighted the importance of introducing direct air travel between the Maldives and Seychelles, noting the long period of time spent in transit in his travel to the Maldives.
The other agreements include the renewal of an agreement signed previously for youth development and vocational training for youth and sports. An agreement for cooperation on ensuring regional safety and security was also signed.
In the joint statement, both presidents noted that the Maldives and Seychelles were distant neighbours.
"The Maldives and Seychelles may be distant neighbours but we share more in common than the differences between us. There are many similarities in customs, livelihood and lifestyle as inhabitants of island states," president Solih said.
While the economy of both countries benefit immensely from the bounty of the seas, peace and security were tied to the safety and security of the Indian Ocean, he said, noting the agreement to jointly combat new maritime security threats, including piracy, drug trafficking, terrorism and human trafficking.
Concluding the joint statement, Seychelles president Wavel Ramkalawan said he felt at home in the Maldives and wished success for the president and the country in the upcoming presidential election.
