Bahrain Vision Forum offers great platform to debate strategies to tackle global challenges: FM

Manama, Sept. 29 (BNA): The Bahrain Visions Forum provides a great platform for discussing the strategies needed to confront the various global challenges facing peace, security, sustainable development and stability at the national, regional and global levels, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has said. The year’s forum is particularly distinguished as it coincides with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, which provides an opportunity to assess the previous action and build on it for the future, Dr. Abdullatif Al Zayani has said. The minister who was speaking on the sideline of the forum said he was delighted to be a participant in the annual event held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister. He expressed his thanks and appreciation for all the efforts made to organize the forum that gives the opportunity every year to discuss the challenges facing the world and to reach solutions within drive to achieve the sustainable development goals. The theme of this year's forum “Sustainable Development Goals Beyond Covid-19 Pandemic” is fully relevant to the emergency pandemic that represents the most urgent challenge to the global economy and sustainable development, Dr. Al Zauyani said. There should be no doubt about the depth and magnitude of the direct and indirect challenges that it has caused and that will be particularly felt by the poor and the most vulnerable. It will also influence the efforts of the countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, he said. The minister stressed that the Middle East needs to find a way to build trust and cooperation “as they are absolutely necessary in addressing, overcoming, and recovering from global health and other emergencies.” One of the ways to do so is to promote more coexistence, regional cooperation, and interdependence by building a voluntary consensus of states based on networks and interconnected organizations across all activities, from government cooperation to private sector procurement. and from regional entities to communication among peoples, he said. The minister emphasized that “by establishing and strengthening such bonds of common interest, the region will be able to begin building the trust, cooperation and resilience that will support a more secure and prosperous future.” "We, in the Kingdom of Bahrain, have always believed in the importance of building dialogue, understanding and trust, as the most effective way to address all issues and challenges. Therefore, we continued communicating with the world, seeking to bridge differences through tolerance and mutual respect,” he said. Al Zayani stressed that stressed that such principles also lie at the core of the sustainable development goals that need to be achieved in order to face the effects of the pandemic. He expressed hope the Middle East and the world will adopt these values and be able to boost stability, prosperity and resilience, and to be in a position to overcome the challenges of the coronavirus, to build new opportunities for youth and to ensure the achievement of sustainable development goals for those who need them most.