Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan and First Lady Linda Ramkalawan concluded their state visit to the Maldives on Friday.
Ramkalawan met with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Monday and exchanged agreements establishing frameworks for cooperation.
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 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.
