Vice President meets UN Secretary-General

His Excellency Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef met with United Nations Secretary-General His Excellency António Guterres on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) in New York.

During the meeting, the Vice President highlighted that climate change is a reality the Maldives faces every day and continues to affect the country's development. He expressed appreciation to the Secretary-General for his advocacy on climate change and issues affecting Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

The Vice President further outlined the Maldives' priorities at the Assembly, including climate resilience, debt sustainability, the implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), SIDS priorities, and the reform of the United Nations.

In response, the Secretary-General expressed solidarity with the Maldives and specifically referenced the challenges the country faces as a result of climate change, reiterating the UN's commitment to supporting more ambitious global climate action and collaborating with the Maldives to address its effects. Both leaders also addressed recent developments of concern across the region, notably in Palestine.