Minister of Foreign Affairs meets the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic

Rome, Feb.4 (BNA): The Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, today met the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic, HE Luigi Di Maio, in Rome, Italy. The meeting took place on the sidelines of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister's official visit to the Italian Republic. During the meeting, HE Shaikh Khalid welcomed the strength of ties between Bahrain and Italy, stressing that HRH the Crown Prince’s visit has consolidated this bilateral relationship to the benefit of both countries and their people. HE Shaikh Khalid and HE Di Maio discussed ways to develop joint coordination between the two countries on regional and international issues of common interest, as well as developments and updates on topics of mutual interest, including the situation in Libya and relations with Iran. HE Shaikh Khalid highlighted the importance of addressing various challenges and further enhancing regional security, peace and stability, in line with the interests of countries within the region. HE Shaikh Khalid and HE Di Maio went on to sign an agreement between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Italian Republic on exemption of visa requirements for holders of Diplomatic, Service and Special Passports. The two sides also signed further agreements regarding Air Services, an agreement on Cultural and Educational, Scientific, Technological and Informational Cooperation, and a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Ministry of Health of the Italian Republic regarding cooperation in the field of Health and Medical sciences. In addition, Shaikh Khalid and the President of the Italian Space Agency, Giorgio Saccoccia, signed a letter of intent between the National Space Science Agency of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Italian Space Agency on civil space cooperation for peaceful purposes. HE the Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that these agreements reflect the joint desire to further strengthen cooperation, to the mutual benefit of both countries and their people.