Aishath Azeema | |
---|---|
Ambassador of the Maldives to China | |
In office August 28, 2019 – September 8, 2023 | |
Preceded by | Mohamed Faisal |
Succeeded by | Huda Ali Shareef (chargé d’affaires) |
Aishath Azeema is a Maldivian diplomat who served as the Maldives' ambassador to China from 2019 to 2023. [1]
After completing the GCE Ordinary Level, Azeema subsequently joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a public servant in 1988. [2] [3] 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. [2] 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. [2] [4] [5]
Having returned to serve as joint secretary in charge of the China and Japan Divisions in 2014, [2] [6] 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. [2] [4] [7] 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. [2] [3] [5] During her tenure, Azeema worked to build "enduring friendly ties" with Beijing. [8] In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, she oversaw government support to Maldivians in China. [9] She completed her service as ambassador to China in September 2023. [1]