Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa arrived in the Maldives Saturday night, on an official visit at the invitation of Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid.
During the visit, Shahid and Hayashi will hold bilateral consultations on strengthening Maldives-Japan diplomatic ties.
Hayashi will also call on Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi and witness the Exchange of Notes under the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) between Maldives and Japan.
Both Hayashi and Shahid will witness the Exchange of Notes for the exemption of visa requirements for diplomatic and official passports for a period of 90 days.
He will also attend a joint handover ceremony of a fireboat and ICT equipment for the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
Hayashi will visit Kalaafaanu School which was built under the generous aid of the Government of Japan and to Seawall Tetrapod Monument, which is a token of friendship and cooperation between Maldives and Japan, the foreign ministry said.
This is the highest-level visit by a Japanese government official to the Maldives, since the visit of former Foreign Minister, Taro Kono in January 2018.
