Aishath Azeema (born 18 April 1969[1]) is a Maldivian diplomat who is currently serving as the high commissioner of the Maldives to India and previously served as the Maldives' ambassador to China from 2019 to 2023.[2]
Aishath Azeema | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| High Commissioner of the Maldives to India | |
| Assuming office TBD | |
| President | Mohamed Muizzu |
| Succeeding | Ibrahim Shaheeb |
| Ambassador of the Maldives to China | |
| In office 28 August 2019 – 8 September 2023 | |
| President | Ibrahim Mohamed Solih |
| Preceded by | Mohamed Faisal |
| Succeeded by | Huda Ali Shareef (chargé d’affaires) Fazeel Najeeb |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 April 1969 Malé, Maldives |
| Children | 2 |
Career
editAfter completing the GCE Ordinary Level, Azeema subsequently joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a public servant in 1988.[3][4] She worked in various departments, primarily the Department of External Resources and the Foreign Relations Department, at one point serving as English secretary at the ministry.[3] For five years, she served as a minister-counsellor and head of chancery at the Maldivian Embassy in India, a close partner nation to the Maldives.[3][5][6]
Having returned to serve as joint secretary in charge of the China and Japan Divisions in 2014,[3][7] Azeema helped negotiate the Maldives' first bilateral free trade agreement, with China, which beginning with the presidency of Abdulla Yameen has become a major influence in the country.[3][5][8] Then, after a stint as Chargé d'affaires or deputy secretary at the Maldivian Embassy in the United Kingdom, she was appointed ambassador to China in 2019.[3][4][6] During her tenure, Azeema worked to build "enduring friendly ties" with Beijing.[9] In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, she oversaw government support to Maldivians in China.[10] She completed her service as ambassador to China in September 2023.[2]
In October 2024, President Mohamed Muizzu nominated Azeema to replace Ibrahim Shaheeb as high commissioner of the Maldives to India to the People's Majlis.[11] The Foreign Relations Committee of the People's Majlis later unanimously approved Azeema as high commissioner.[12] She was later appointed on 30 October 2024.[13]
References
edit- ^ "3 Ambassadors" (PDF). People's Majlis. 11 December 2018. p. 7. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Former Ambassadors". Embassy of the Maldives, Beijing. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "The Ambassador". Embassy of the Maldives, Beijing. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
- ^ a b "New Ambassador to China presents credentials". One. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ a b Mitra, Rangoli (19 January 2022). "The China-India Cold War in Maldives". The Diplomat. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Parliament gives go-ahead for appointment of 3 ambassadors". Sun. 26 February 2019. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ "Japan envoy urges boosting ties during meeting with Maldives Foreign Minister". BBC Monitoring South Asia. 9 April 2014.
- ^ "Maldives govt hits-back at Nasheed over China 'land grab' claim". Avas. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Maldives' Ambassador to China pays Courtesy Call on Vice President". The President's Office. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ "Maldivians in Wuhan to receive financial assistance within 2 days". PSM News. 26 January 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ^ Shahid, Malika (14 October 2024). "New High Commissioner to India nominated, parliament approval pending". The Edition. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
- ^ "Foreign Relations Committee Approves Aishath Azeema as High Commissioner to India". Corporate Maldives. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
- ^ "The President appoints High Commissioner and Ambassador to India and Saudi Arabia". The President's Office. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.