Bahrain and Russia signed seven agreements to cement their strong ties when His Majesty King Hamad held official talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow.
The Russian president welcomed the visit of His Majesty to Russia, emphasising ongoing communication with him.
He highlighted the advanced co-operation between the two countries, which celebrate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.
President Putin underscored the two countries’ long-standing efforts to strengthen co-operation, affirming their shared diplomatic positions on various regional and global issues. He expressed his keenness to learn about the outcomes of the 33rd Arab Summit, which was hosted by Bahrain last week.
He expressed optimism on further bolstering trade co-operation, underscoring the encouraging indicators regarding investment collaboration. He said there were approximately 30 large-scale projects between the two countries and an investment package valued at $500 million.
The President added that cultural co-operation between the two countries continued to develop, particularly through the hosting of Bahrain’s cultural events in Russia, while also hosting Russian events in Bahrain next year.
He also commended the advanced educational collaboration between the two countries.
For his part, the King expressed his appreciation to the Russian President for his invitation, affirming that the visit provides a boost to cooperation across various domains.
His Majesty said that one of the key objectives of the visit was briefing the president on the outcomes of the Arab Summit, noting that its participants commended Russia’s support and solidarity with just Arab causes.
The King highlighted the decision made during the Arab Summit on hosting an international peace conference.
He noted that the Russian Federation was the first country approached by him for support in hosting this conference, in recognition of the significance of Russia’s global role.
His Majesty emphasised his keenness to hosting this conference in Bahrain.
Furthermore, the King congratulated the Russian president on winning in the presidential elections.
He said that this victory demonstrated the people’s trust in the president’s visionary leadership, noting that the region and the Arab world welcomed this win and are supportive of Russia’s stability.
The King praised Russia’s economic, social, and security advancement, despite the difficult conditions faced by Russia and the region.
The situation in the Gaza Strip was one of the main sources of concern, the King said. Everyone hopes that this war ends for the sake of the innocent people who have been severely impacted, and the hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes and their communities, and are seeking refuge within their own country, in an area 40km long and 12km wide, amidst ongoing bombings, His Majesty said.
He stressed that the main priority is innocent civilians and delivering humanitarian aid to them, noting that, on the other hand, the historical dispute is well-documented, and that no prior consultations took place on the military operations.
The King emphasised that Arab leaders showed a complete understanding of the situation during the Arab Summit, and that there was consensus regarding this issue.
His Majesty said he was honoured with leading the responsibility of addressing Arab issues during the current session of the summit, emphasising that he looked forward to the continued Russian support.
He also expressed Bahrain’s interest in the support of Arab countries and Russia to achieving the principles of good neighbourliness, to maintain relations on diplomatic, trade and cultural levels with countries in the region.
He emphasised that the support of Russia and President Putin was welcomed by the people of Bahrain and by himself personally.
The King said the kingdom looked forward to improving relations with Iran, and that there was no reason to delay the resumption of relations between the two countries.
Moreover, the two sides discussed the advanced status of bilateral co-operation relations across various domains and further developing them to serve the interests of both countries and peoples.
The talks also touched on the latest developments in the Arab region, particularly the destructive war on the Gaza Strip.
They reviewed regional and international efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and providing unimpeded humanitarian aid to the civilian population in Gaza to alleviate their suffering.
In this context, they stressed the importance of calm and de-escalation, advocating for a diplomatic resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. They called for a just, comprehensive, and sustainable solution for the Palestinian case in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
This includes the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and supporting efforts to recognise and accept the Palestinian state as a permanent member of the United Nations.
The two sides stressed the importance of the UN Security Council fulfilling its responsibilities to resolve global conflicts in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.
Stability
They emphasised the need to uphold international peace and security, mobilise international efforts for global stability, and promote sustainable development to ensure the well-being and prosperity of all people worldwide.
In honour of His Majesty, President Putin held a luncheon at the Grand Kremlin Palace, attended by members of the official Bahraini delegation and senior officials in the Russian government.
During the luncheon, the two leaders exchanged gifts of state.
Following that, the King and the president attended the signing ceremony of the memorandums of understanding and agreements that were signed between Bahrain and Russia.
- 1. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Health Ministry and the Ministry of Health of Russia, aimed at strengthening co-operation in the sector. It was signed by Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani and Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko.
- 2. An MoU between the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) and the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry to enhance co-operation in pharmaceutical manufacturing. It was signed by Dr Al Zayani and Minister Anton Alikhanov.
- 3. An MoU between the Transportation and Telecommunications Ministry and the Russian Ministry of Transport on transportation and transit. This MoU aimed at improving transportation efficiency and increase the number of passengers and goods transported in bilateral traffic and transit on the International North-South Transport Corridor. It was signed by Dr Al Zayani and Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoyt.
- 4. An MoU between the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) and the Russian Ministry of Culture, regarding the implementation of the Russian Seasons programme that is aimed at showcasing Russian culture and heritage in Bahrain. Dr Al Zayani and Minister Olga Lymubimova signed the MoU.
- 5. A co-operation programme between BACA and the Culture Ministry for 2024-2027. This programme aimed at implementing the MoU signed between the two countries on December 2, 2008, to strengthen cultural relations. It was signed by Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani and Ms Lymubimova.
- 6. An MoU between the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) and the Russian Roscongress Foundation for Expert and Analytical Work and the Falcon Centre ‘Kamchatka’. This aimed at expanding co-operation in the field of protecting rare bird species internationally – signed by Foreign Ministry Under-Secretary for Political Affairs Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Roscongress Foundation Deputy Director G P Velikikh and Falcon Centre Development Director V V Tumashov.
- 7. An MoU between the Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa Academy for Diplomatic Studies at the Foreign Ministry and the Diplomatic Academy of the Foreign Ministry of Russia. This MoU aimed at boosting ongoing co-operation in the field of training and improving the professional skills of diplomats, within the framework of enhancing bilateral diplomatic ties. It was signed by Dr Shaikh Abdulla and Russian academy’s Rector Alexander Yakovenko.
The signing ceremony was attended by members of the official Bahraini delegation and senior officials in the Russian government. Later, a formal farewell ceremony was held where His Majesty bid farewell to his hosts. He later left Russia.
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