Both the Prime Minister and the Maldivian President agreed to work towards the recognition of Small Island States as a distinct category within the United Nations system so as to benefit from special and differential treatment in view of their vulnerabilities.

During the working session, the countries’ respective facilities in maritime surveillance were reviewed and the two leaders agreed to study the possibility of collaborating with other Indian Ocean Island States to enhance the capacity to fight illegal and unregulated fishing in the EEZs and piracy. They voiced out their strong opposition with regard to the establishment of a Marine Protected Area around the Chagos Archipelago and agreed to take a collective stand vis-a-vis the UK government.  Both governments agreed to make bilateral arrangements on the overlapping area of extended continental shelf of the two States around Chagos.

Dr Ramgoolam and Mr Nasheed expressed their grief over the loss of lives and severe damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami which struck Japan on 11 March.