Aishath Azeema

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
Designate
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	(1969-04-10) 10 April 1969 (age 55) Malé, Maldives
Children	2

Career

After 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

1. "3 Ambassadors" (PDF). People's Majlis. 11 December 2018. p. 7. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
2. "Former Ambassadors". Embassy of the Maldives, Beijing. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
3. "The Ambassador". Embassy of the Maldives, Beijing. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
4. "New Ambassador to China presents credentials". One. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
5. Mitra, Rangoli (19 January 2022). "The China-India Cold War in Maldives". The Diplomat. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
6. "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.
7. "Japan envoy urges boosting ties during meeting with Maldives Foreign Minister". BBC Monitoring South Asia. 9 April 2014.
8. "Maldives govt hits-back at Nasheed over China 'land grab' claim". Avas. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
9. "Maldives' Ambassador to China pays Courtesy Call on Vice President". The President's Office. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
10. "Maldivians in Wuhan to receive financial assistance within 2 days". PSM News. 26 January 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
11. Shahid, Malika (14 October 2024). "New High Commissioner to India nominated, parliament approval pending". The Edition. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
12. "Foreign Relations Committee Approves Aishath Azeema as High Commissioner to India". Corporate Maldives. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
13. "The President appoints High Commissioner and Ambassador to India and Saudi Arabia". The President's Office. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.