MANAMA: Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani yesterday praised deep-rooted relations with India and expressed keenness to consolidate them.
He was speaking at the third ministerial meeting of the High Joint Commission (HJC) between Bahrain and India, held in New Delhi. It was co-chaired by Dr Al Zayani and India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar.
Dr Jaishankar hailed the HJC’s role in studying areas of co-operation between the two countries and ways to enhance co-operation in the economic, commercial and investment fields.
He also recalled his last visit to Bahrain in November 2020, and its results, stressing India’s interest in strengthening the friendship and co-operation relations with Bahrain.
Dr Al Zayani praised the close and deep-rooted relations between the two countries and further developing them in the coming years.
He noted the successful visit of His Majesty King Hamad to India in February 2014, and the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bahrain in August 2019, as both visits represent real milestones in the Bahraini-Indian relations.
He said that Bahrain highly appreciates the contributions of the Indian community to the development process in the kingdom, and its role in promoting bilateral relations.
He hailed efforts and co-operation of the two countries to confront the Covid-19 pandemic. He also stressed that Bahrain’s leadership has always been keen to promote the historical relations with India and its friendly people, and to expand and develop these friendly relations, so that the two sides benefit from closer co-operation and exchange of experiences.
The HJC meeting discussed a number of topics on the agenda, including reviewing bilateral and political relations, high-level visits, bilateral institutional mechanisms, commercial and economic relations and trends in bilateral trade and investment, and following up on agreements and memoranda of understanding.
The two sides discussed joint strategy and co-operation in the post-Covid-19 phase, vaccines and pharmaceuticals, co-operation in the fields of security and defence, consular/labour issues and the integration of employment portals, in addition to culture, tourism, education, youth and sports.
They also exchanged views on regional, international and multilateral issues and issues of common concern.
The HJC meeting issued a statement, in which the two sides expressed satisfaction with the course of close friendship and periodic high-level consultations, which led to further promoting and diversifying their co-operation.
The Indian side thanked the leadership and the government of Bahrain for the safety, security and well-being of the Indian community in the kingdom, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, and for providing free vaccination for everyone, including members of the Indian community. The two sides also agreed to continue their co-operation in combating the coronavirus pandemic.
The two sides also valued the role of the Indian community’s vital contribution to the development process in Bahrain.
The two sides also discussed major global developments and regional and multilateral issues of common interest, and stressed the importance of securing peace and stability in Asia and the Middle East.
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