Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Mohammed Al Khalifa arrived here on Sunday along with a high-level delegation, to co-chair the inaugural session of Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission with Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs.
Soon after his arrival, both sides held a meeting to review the dynamism and scope of existing relations between the two countries. The meeting was also attended by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi as well as secretaries of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Overseas Pakistani besides other senior officials from both sides.
Appreciating the consistent development of bilateral relations in all areas of mutual cooperation, both sides welcomed the up-gradation of the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) to the level of Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC). Sartaj Aziz highlighted that the Ministerial Commission would serve as a regular platform to discuss cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.
During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on possibilities of improving bilateral economic cooperation while highlighting that regular business-to-business interactions were the key in this regard. The adviser expressed gratitude to king of Bahrain for facilitating the convening of the first Pakistan-Bahrain Business Opportunity Conference in Manama, in September 2016. The 2nd session of the conference, being held in Pakistan in March 2017, would further boost commercial linkages between the countries.
While briefing the Bahraini side on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor Project (CPEC), the adviser informed that CPEC, including its Gawadar Port project, has emerged as a remarkable means to enhance the economic depth of regional countries. He assured that Pakistan remained ready to connect various surrounding regions for a win-win outcome for all.
Reciprocating the sentiments of the adviser, Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Mohammed Al Khalifa reiterated that Pakistan-Bahrain relations reflected a consistently strong bond of friendship which was devoid of any irritant or divergence of interests on important issues. Bahrain highly appreciated and expressed great satisfaction over the notable success Pakistan had achieved in defeating the scourge of terrorism which has contributed to regional peace and stability.
He said that Bahrain remained eager to strengthen the already strong Pakistan-GCC relation even further. He added that Bahrain, currently holding the chair of GCC, would make serious efforts to reinforce this important relationship, for the benefit of all sides in the region.
The inaugural session of JMC will be held on February 6, including plenary and technical sessions for thread base review of the bilateral cooperation in various sectors.