AMN / BAHRAIN
INDIA’S External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa and Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa and discussed ways to further strengthen the bilateral ties between two countries.
Ms Swaraj, who arrived in Manama on Saturday on a two-day visit, also co-chaired the second joint commission meeting with her counterpart Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.
Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a tweet that Ms Swaraj had a warm exchange of views on furthering cooperation in science & technology, renewable energy and other areas when she called on His Majesty the King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa.
On the meeting between Mrs Swaraj and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa at Gudaibiya Palace in Manama, he said discussion focused on upgrading the partnership across sectors, specially in trade and investment, defence, renewable energy, IT, health and education.
Mrs Swaraj began her engagements in Manama yesterday by meeting her counterpart and a close friend of India, Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid. The two leaders co-chaired 2nd India-Bahrain High Joint Commission. The first meeting of the High Joint Commission (HJC) was held in New Delhi in February 2015.
Khalid praised the contribution of the Indian community settled in Bahrain towards the economic development of the Gulf Kingdom. Swaraj later called on Prime minister Khalifa bin Salman and held discussions on consolidating the “valuable” bilateral relationship. During the visit, she also gifted a box of books called ‘Bharat ek Priychay’ to the National Library in Manama.
Swaraj later left for India after concluding her “successful” visit to Bahrain, Kumar tweeted.
India & Bahrain underlined close bilateral ties, deep-rooted in shared history and cultural affinities, sustained and nourished through growing economic linkages, multi-faceted cooperation and close people-to-people contacts, he said.The Indian community of about 3.5 to 4 lakh people forms nearly one-fourth of Bahrain’s population. India is Bahrain’s fifth largest trading partner.