Bahrain-Japan meetings held

Tokyo, Dec. 24 (BNA): In activation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Political Consultation on April 11, 2012, during the historical paid by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to Japan, the 4th Meeting for Political Consultations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Japan was held on Wednesday 21st of December 2016 in Tokyo. The meeting was co-chaired by the Undersecretary for International Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, from the Bahraini side and the Director-General of the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau of the Foreign Minister of Japan, UEMURA, Tsukasa, From the Japanese side. The two sides praised the distinguished relations between the two countries, reviewed ways to strengthen the existing bilateral relations in various fields and discussed the agreements and memorandums of understanding under study. In the presence of a number of officials from the Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) and the Interior Ministry, the third meeting of the Comprehensive Security Dialogue between the two countries was held and attended by the Director General for International Affairs, Bureau of Defense Policy, Japanese Ministry of Defense, Osamu Izawa. During the meeting, Regional and international developments as well as cooperation between the two countries were discussed. The Japanese side commended the Kingdom of Bahrain for hosting the IISS Manama Dialogue, the 12th Regional Security Summit that discussed an array of regional and international Political and Security issues. On the sidelines of the visit, the Undersecretary for International Affairs also met with the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Motome TAKISAWA, Chairman of Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense at the House of Councillors Takashi UTO, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare and Head of Japan-Bahrain Parliamentary Friendship Committee Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Committee Vice Chairman Arata TAKEBE and members of the Committee: the Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Taido Tanose as well as Mr. Tatsuo Fukuda and a number of Japanese Parliamentarians. They discussed bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries and the need to further take advantage of available opportunities in trade, investment, health and, parliamentary fields and others. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla also paid a visit to the Foreign Service Training Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he met its Director-General, Mr. IZUMI Hiroyasu who briefed him on the Japanese experience in preparing and rehabilitating diplomats in the field of Foreign Service. The Undersecretary of State for International Affairs also visited the United Nations University (UNU) in Tokyo and met with its President, Dr. David Malone. They discussed areas of cooperation and ways to benefit from the university’s expertise and available programs. It is noteworthy that the historical Bahraini-Japanese relations have witnessed a tremendous boost since the inception of Ambassadorial-level ties in 1972 and with the constant keenness of both sides are to further develop them in all fields. (MOFA)