HRH Premier: SDGs achievement requires concerted international efforts

Manama, Apr. 11 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has asserted Bahrain’s keenness to enhance its cooperation with various regional and international organisations and institutions that adopt the noble values and goals that could bring about development for peoples, out of its belief that contributing to human renaissance is a common responsibility. Manama, Apr. 11 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has asserted Bahrain’s keenness to enhance its cooperation with various regional and international organisations and institutions that adopt the noble values and goals that could bring about development for peoples, out of its belief that contributing to human renaissance is a common responsibility. "Building a secure world that ensures co-existence among its peoples requires concerted efforts by the International Community and constant work to achieve the UN-approved Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), being the best means to achieve Good for the entire humanity," HRH Premier said. The Prime Minister made the statements while receiving, at his Palace in Riffa, former Norwegian Prime Minister and President of the Oslo Centre for Peace and Human Rights, Kjell Magne Bondevik, along with the President of the Dialogue for Peace foundation and Chairman of the 14th of August Committee of Norway, Aamir Javed Sheikh, who are currently on a visit to the kingdom. HRH the Prime Minister welcomed the delegation’s visit, noting that it would contribute to strengthening areas of cooperation that would consolidate collective action aimed at serving development and peace issues across the world. HRH Premier asserted that the world and the region are going through multiple challenges that have had negative repercussions on countries’ sustainable development efforts and plans, adding that dealing with these challenges requires strong international will that would be based on consolidating common human grounds, and promoting peace, as well as positive constructive co-existence. HRH Premier lauded the efforts exerted by the Oslo Centre for Peace and Human Rights and the Dialogue for Peace foundation for the sake of strengthening rapprochement and understanding on everything related to the global efforts in the field of sustainable development. Former Norwegian Prime Minister and President of the Oslo Centre for Peace and Human Rights, Kjell Magne Bondevik, lauded the Prime Minister’s efforts to enhance international cooperation to achieve sustainable development, in addition to the tremendous efforts he had exerted to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). "HRH Premier is a distinguished international personality with a deep vision and clear marks in pushing the international joint action in the field of sustainable development forward through his stances aimed at raising the humanitarian situation of all peoples," he said. Bondevik expressed admiration for the progress boom currently witnessed by the kingdom across various sectors, noting that Bahrain has reached advanced levels in achieving SDGs. He also welcomed cooperation with the kingdom on everything related to achieving SDGs, and through the participation in the Bahrain International Forum, to be held at the UN headquarters on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s annual meetings in September. President of the Dialogue for Peace foundation and Chairman of the 14th of August Committee of Norway, Aamir Javed Sheikh, expressed delight at visiting the kingdom, and meeting HRH the Prime Minister, noting that he had listened to the Premier’s realistic and in-depth analysis of the overall challenges facing the International Community in the field of sustainable development, as well as his visions on ways to promote peace, security and stability worldwide. Aamir Javed Sheikh lauded HRH Premier’s initiatives in support of efforts to achieve SDGs at the local and international levels, citing the Premier’s launch of an international award to support individual and institutional efforts to achieve SDGs. He also stressed that the Dialogue for Peace foundation and the 14th of August Committee of Norway welcomed cooperation with the "Khalifa Bin Salman Award for Sustainable Development" at all levels.