Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khaleel (front row, second from the right, October 2019) accompanying President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (front row, center) on a visit to the Maritime Disaster Prevention Center Yokosuka Training Center

Ahmed Khaleel (Dhivehi:އަހްމަދު ޚަލީލް, born March 17, 1962[1]) is a Maldivian diplomat and the former Ambassador to Japan.[2] He also studied in Majeediyya School for 10 years. He served as the non-resident ambassador to the Republic of Korea.[3] He served as the Under-Secretary for Bilateral Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during 2016–2018, before becoming the MInister of State for Foreign Affairs in November 2018.[4]

Diplomatic career

He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1981 and first worked at the Immigration Bureau for about six months, then worked at the Office of the High Commission in Sri Lanka, where he was the third secretary.[4]

From October 1983 to June 1984, He completed a Foreign Service Training Programme in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. From October 1991 to June 1992, he also completed a Diplomat Training Programme at Oxford University in England.[1]

From 2006 to 2007, he served as Chargé d'Affaires of the Maldives to Japan and he was involved in the opening of the embassy,[5] and then from 2007 to 2009 as an Ambassador to the United Nations.[1]

He was also the Ambassador of the Maldives to Japan from 2009 to 2016[4][6] (the presentation of his credentials was held in 2010, a year after his appointment)[2]

On 11 March 2011, during Khaleel's third year as Ambassador to Japan, the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred, causing extensive damage mainly on the Pacific coast of the Tōhoku region. From August 26 to 27 of the same year, he engaged in relief activities in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, the disaster-stricken area, together with Yoshitaka Shindo, a member of the House of Representatives who was then the secretary-general of the Japan-Maldives Friendship Parliamentary League. (This was the first time that Khaleel accompanied Japan.)[7]

On 18 April 2013, he visited South Korea's capital Seoul as a non-resident ambassador to the Republic of Korea and presented his credentials to President Park Geun-hye at the Blue House.[3]

On 15 December 2015, while Khaleel was serving as ambassador to Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hosted a luncheon for 24 Japanese-speaking ambassadors from various countries to Japan to the Prime Minister's official residence, Khaleel being one of them.[8]

On 3 October 2016, Khaleel was appointed as the Under-Secretary for Bilateral Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On 14 June 2018, he participated in the first Japan-Maldives Policy Dialogue which was held in Tokyo as Vice-Minister for Bilateral Relations and exchanged opinions with Nariki Takizaki, the Director of Southern Asia, and others.[9]

On 22 November 2018, he was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.[4] On 27 August 2019, he participated in the 2nd Japan-Maldives Policy Dialogue held in Malé, the capital of Maldives, as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and exchanged opinions with Shigeki Takizaki, the Director of Southeast and Southwest Asian affairs department.[10] On 4 March 2021, he participated in the 3rd Japan-Maldives Policy Dialogue held in and online video conference format as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and exchanged opinions with Kenichi Kobayashi, the Director-General of Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs department.[11]

On 4 October 2021, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khaleel signed and exchanged letters with Keiko Yanai, Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives, in Malé regarding the Economic and Social Development Plan, a grant aid with a maximum of 400 million yen.[12] On 30 May 2022, a letter was signed and exchanged with Midori Takeuchi, Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives, in Malé regarding the "Economic and Social Development Plan" 650 million yen grant aid.[13]

On 27 September 2022, the funeral of the late Shinzo Abe was held in Tokyo, attended by Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, Ambassador to Japan Hassan Sobir, and Deputy Ambassador Mohammad Ameetou Ahmed Manik.[14]

On 4 April 2023, he participated in the 4th Japan-Maldives Policy Dialogue held in Tokyo as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and exchanged opinions with Yutaka Arima, Director of Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs department.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "New Permanent Representative of Maldives Presents Credentials". 19 February 2008.
  2. 1 2 "新任駐日モルディブ大使の信任状捧呈" [Presentation of credentials by the newly appointed Maldives Ambassador to Japan]. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (in Japanese). 16 February 2010.
  3. 1 2 "First Non- Resident Ambassador to the Republic of Korea presents Credentials". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives. 22 April 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Ahmed Khaleel - Minister of State for Foreign Affairs". gov.mv.
  5. ↑ "モルディブ、駐日大使館を開設、5年後に日本人の倍増目指す" [Maldives opens embassy in Japan, aims to double Japanese population in five years]. Travel Vision. 11 May 2007.
  6. ↑ "天皇皇后両陛下のご日程" [Schedule of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress]. Imperial Household Agency.
  7. ↑ "週刊新藤第228号　石巻ボランティア活動を実施！～被災地にみんなの笑顔と元気を届けたい～" [Weekly Shindo No. 228 Ishinomaki volunteer activities! ~We want to bring everyone's smiles and energy to the disaster-stricken areas~].
  8. ↑ "安倍総理大臣と日本語を話す駐日各国大使との昼食会" [Luncheon with Prime Minister Abe and Japanese-speaking ambassadors to Japan]. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
  9. ↑ "第1回日・モルディブ政策対話の開催" [First Japan-Maldives Policy Dialogue]. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (in Japanese). 14 June 2018.
  10. ↑ "The Second Japan-Maldives Policy Dialogue". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
  11. ↑ "The Third Japan-Maldives Policy Dialogue". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
  12. ↑ "モルディブ共和国に対する保健医療体制強化のための支援（無償資金協力「経済社会開発計画」）" [Support for strengthening the health and medical system of the Republic of Maldives (grant aid “Economic and Social Development Plan”)]. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (in Japanese).
  13. ↑ "モルディブ共和国に対する警察保安に関する協力（無償資金協力）" [Cooperation regarding police security to the Republic of Maldives (grant aid)]. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (in Japanese).
  14. ↑ Maldives in Japan [@MDVinJapan] (September 27, 2022). "Foreign Minister @abdulla_shahid, Amb. Sobir & SM Khaleel today attended the State Funeral for former Prime Minister of Japan, Abe Shinzo" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ↑ "第4回日・モルディブ政策対話の開催" [4th Japan-Maldives Policy Dialogue]. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (in Japanese).
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