Bahraini Ambassador to UK, Dean of Arab Diplomatic Corps hosts reception for Conservative Party members
London, Oct. 5 (BNA): Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Bahraini Ambassador to Britain, Dean of Arab Diplomatic Corps in the UK, hosted a reception held by the Council of Arab Ambassadors in honour of the members of the ruling Conservative Party, on the sidelines of the party’s annual conference, held in Manchester.
The reception was attended by James Cleverly, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, and Alicia Kearns, Chair of the House of Commons’ Foreign Affairs Committee, in addition to senior Conservative Party officials and representatives of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, as well as ambassadors, and representatives of various intellectual institutions and donor companies participating in the conference.
Addressing the ceremony, Shaikh Fawaz welcomed the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, senior officials and guests, highlighting the steadily growing solid Arab-UK relations. He expressed hope that bilateral ties will further develop across political, security and economic fields.
He stressed that the ongoing constructive cooperation between Arab countries and the United Kingdom is flourishing in all fields, noting that work is underway to bolster bilateral cooperation and coordination in vital areas, such as renewable energy, environmental protection, tourism, and other sectors of common interest.
He also highlighted the ongoing negotiations between the Secretariat-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the UK government for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and the economic and investment opportunities that will result from it. He asserted that the UK and Arab countries enjoy strong historical relations that played an essential role in the stability of the Middle East and North Africa region, adding that all Arab states look forward to continuing this cooperation.
Then, James Cleverly, in a statement, affirmed the importance of the UK-Arab relations and the level they have reached, pointing out that there are more promising opportunities for cooperation with Arab countries in the fields of economy, health, green energy, environment and culture. He noted his special personal relationship with the Middle East and North Africa region, as it was the first file he headed when he was previously appointed as Minister of State for Middle East and North African Affairs, stressing his keenness to continue supporting everything that the region needs.
MP Alicia Kearns asserted that the large participation of the Conservative Party members in the Council of Arab Ambassadors’ reception testifies to the importance her country attaches to its friends and allies in the Middle East, affirming that the UK will always support the countries of the region, under various circumstances. She added that members of the House of Commons' Foreign Affairs Committee are visiting the region this year to discuss cooperation opportunities and ways to face common challenges.
Over the past four days of the Conservative Party annual conference, Shaikh Fawaz held various meetings with UK senior officials and MPs, and participated in many events.
He attended the entrepreneurs' dinner banquet, hosted by Jeremy Hunt, British Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the presence of a number of British government ministers, and with the participation of major British investors, entrepreneurs, and representatives of UK companies and banks.
Shaikh Fawaz also participated in a panel discussion themed “Beyond the FTA- Understanding Regional Transformation and Expanding UK-GCC Relations", co-organised by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the UK and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, on the sidelines of the Conservative Party’s annual conference in Manchester.
Dr. Liam Fox, Member of the House of Commons for the Conservative Party, Chair of the Global Britain Commission, the UK Abraham Accords Group and former Secretary of State for International Trade, Dr Azeem Ibrahim, Research Professor at the Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College, and a Director at the Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy in Washington D.C, and Charlotte Leslie, Director of the Conservative Middle East Council (CMEC).
Addressing the session, Shaikh Fawaz highlighted the positive economic situation in the region, noting that the gross domestic product of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is worth $2.4 trillion and is expected to reach $6 trillion by 2050, with the growth of the GCC economy by about 6% annually.
He added that the GCC stock markets rank fifth among the 10 largest global ones, and that three GCC countries top the list of the top 20 countries in the Global Competitiveness Index, noting the diverse investment opportunities and facilities available in the region for various sectors and industries.
The Ambassador also indicated that the Kingdom of Bahrain is a regional and global role model for peaceful coexistence, adding that in light of the ongoing conflicts and misunderstandings, Bahrain proves that there is a pioneering experience in peaceful coexistence and good opportunities for peace in the region.
He also attended a forum on the UK's future of Trade with the GCC and MENA, organised by the Bahraini Embassy in cooperation with the Conservative Middle East Council.
Lord Dominic Johnson, UK Minister of State for Investment, spoke during the event. He highlighted his recent successful visit to Bahrain after the signing of the memorandum of understanding on the Strategic Investment and Collaboration Partnership between the two countries. He stressed that the Arabian Gulf region is a promising region that provides distinctive investment opportunities.
