Aishath Azeema
Aishath Azeema
Ambassador of the Maldives to China
Assumed office
August 28, 2019

Aishath Azeema is a Maldivian diplomat currently serving as the Maldives' ambassador to China.

After completing the GCE Ordinary Level, Azeema subsequently joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a public servant in 1988.[1][2] 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.[1] 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.[1][3][4]

Having returned to serve as joint secretary in charge of the China and Japan Divisions in 2014,[1][5] 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.[1][3][6] 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.[1][2][4] During her tenure, Azeema has worked to build "enduring friendly ties" with Beijing.[7] In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, she oversaw government support to Maldivians in China.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "The Ambassador". Embassy of the Republic of the Maldives, Beijing, China. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
  2. ^ a b "New Ambassador to China presents credentials". One Online. 2019-08-19. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
  3. ^ a b Mitra, Rangoli (2022-01-19). "The China-India Cold War in Maldives". The Diplomat. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
  4. ^ a b "Parliament gives go-ahead for appointment of 3 ambassadors". SunOnline International. 2019-02-26. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
  5. ^ "Japan envoy urges boosting ties during meeting with Maldives Foreign Minister". BBC Monitoring South Asia. 2014-04-09.
  6. ^ "Maldives govt hits-back at Nasheed over China 'land grab' claim". Avas. 2018-01-23. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
  7. ^ "Maldives' Ambassador to China pays Courtesy Call on Vice President". MENA Report. 2019-08-09.
  8. ^ "Maldivians in Wuhan to receive financial assistance within 2 days". PSM News. 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
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