President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has called for renewed efforts to strengthen regional cooperation within the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), commemorating the 40th anniversary of the organisation’s founding charter.

In a message conveyed to the SAARC Secretary-General, the President said that the region must focus on restoring trust among member states and reconvening the long-stalled SAARC Summit, which has not been held since 2014. He noted that closer cooperation is essential to unlocking the region’s development potential.

The President highlighted a number of challenges that require collective regional action, including the growing impacts of climate change, the shift towards renewable energy, improvements to public health systems, and the need to strengthen food security and economic inclusion. He added that countries would benefit from a more responsive and cohesive institutional structure within SAARC.

President Dr Muizzu reaffirmed the Maldives’ commitment to supporting a more effective and future-focused SAARC that prioritises shared interests over political divisions and contributes to peace and stability in the region.

SAARC Charter Day, observed each year on 8 December, marks the formation of the organisation in 1985 to promote cooperation and development among South Asian nations.