Presentation of Credentials by the United Nations Resident Coordinator to the Republic of Maldives

Malé, 25 May 2025 – The newly appointed United Nations Resident Coordinator to the Republic of Maldives, Mr. Hao Zhang, has presented his credentials to His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu at a ceremony held at the President’s Office this morning.

The UN Resident Coordinator was ceremonially escorted from the Republic Square to the President’s Office in a traditional “Haiykolhu” procession, accompanied by MNDF Drum and Trumpet Band. The United Nations Resident Coordinator serves as the highest-ranking representative of the UN development system in the country, responsible for leading and coordinating the efforts of all UN agencies, funds, and programmes to advance sustainable development for the country.

Following the formal presentation, President Muizzu extended a warm welcome to Mr Zhang and conveyed his confidence that the longstanding partnership between the Republic of Maldives and the United Nations would be further strengthened under his leadership. The President acknowledged the significant contributions of the United Nations to national development efforts and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to multilateralism. He further emphasized the United Nations’ essential role in supporting the Maldives in addressing pressing development challenges, particularly in promoting health and wellbeing while addressing non-communicable diseases and their causes, enhancing climate resilience, ensuring equitable and sustainable progress across all sectors of society.

Mr. Zhang extended greetings to His Excellency President Muizzu from the UN Secretary-General Mr António Guterres and commended President Muizzu's visionary leadership and the Government's ambitious agenda for national development. He also reaffirmed the United Nations' commitment to support the Maldives in achieving its national vision of becoming a developed country by 2040. He reaffirmed the support from the United Nations based in Maldives and abroad to strategic priorities, particularly formulation of the 20-year National Development Plan, climate resilience, communications and advocacy in relation to generational ban on tobacco and strengthening support for mental health. 

The President thanked the UN and its agencies for the continued support and assistance to the Maldives and expressed his confidence in strengthening cooperation with a renewed spirit under Mr Zhang’s tenure. The ceremony was attended by H.E.  Dr. Abdulla Khaleel, Minister of Foreign Affairs; H.E. Ali Arif, Minister at the President’s Office for Presidential Affairs; Head of UN Resident Coordinator’s Office Huda Adam and UN Peace and Development Adviser Janeen Fernando.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:
Najma Abdulla, Communications and Advocacy Officer, 

Email: najma.abdulla@un.org, 

Phone number: +9607636936