Solid Bahrain-UK relations, Bahrain's efforts to combat pandemic highlighted

Manama, July 13 (BNA): First Deputy Chairman of the Shura Council, Jamal Mohammed Fakhro, has called for continuing efforts to strengthen cooperation and joint action between Bahrain and the United Kingdom, through exchanging legislative expertise and experiences, opening up new areas of bilateral action and discussing ways to enhance the deep-rooted bilateral relations, especially in light of the exceptional circumstances resulting from the novel Coronavirus pandemic. Fakhro made the statements during a virtual parliamentary meeting held by the Shura Council’s Secretariat-General, in cooperation with the UK-based Global Partners Governance, under the theme “Bahrain and the World - Reflection on the Economic and Political Scene after the Spread of Covid 19”. Several Shura Council members, Member of the UK House of Lords and Advisor to Global Partners Governance, Lord Jeremy Purvis of Tweed and diplomats from Bahrain’s Foreign Affairs Ministry participated in the online forum, moderated by former Deputy Minister at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and former Member of the House of Commons, Alistair Burt. Fakhro conveyed the greetings to the Shura Council Chairman, Ali bin Saleh Al-Saleh, to the participants, as well as his wishes for success to their meeting, the first of its kind to be held by Shura Council in cooperation with Global Partners Governance. He stressed the importance of the meeting in pushing cooperation and coordination between Bahrain’s Shura Council and the UK parliament further, highlighting Bahrain’s appreciation of its long-standing relations with Great Britain. He highlighted Bahrain’s successful efforts to confront the pandemic at the health, economic and social levels, citing the sharp drop in the number of daily infections. Lord Jeremy Purvis of Tweed expressed pride in holding the virtual Bahrain-UK parliamentary meeting, noting that it reflects the advanced level of bilateral relations, and Bahrain’s keenness to develop its national legislation through enriching it with other experiences. He underlined the key role played by parliaments in countries’ response to COVID-19 challenges, through identifying the needs of many fields related to public services, economy and legislation. Alistair Burt praised the Shura Council’s initiative to hold the remote meeting to pave the way for exchanging opinions and legislative experiences that serve countries during this period, voicing pride in Shura Council members’ opinions and proposals that contribute to enhancing parliamentary action between the two kingdoms, as well as strengthen their direct communication and coordination vis-à-vis issues of mutual interest. The virtual dialogue focused on political, economic and legislative fields, especially in light of the repercussions of the pandemic on the economy, and the need to regain trust and build flexibility in facing future challenges. The participants also discussed health security and return to normalcy, as well as the level of response to the pandemic and the launch of vaccinations against COVID-19. They also reviewed the continuity of the work of vital facilities during the spread of the pandemic through digital transformation and the rapid development of the information and communication technology, in addition to the impact of the pandemic on efforts made for economic diversification, and the shift in food security investments within the experience of the United Kingdom. The virtual meeting also reviewed the Bahrain-UK historical ties and friendship, and the future of relations between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the United Kingdom, given the central role played by the Kingdom of Bahrain at various levels. The meeting is within the parliamentary support programmes provided by the Shura Council’s Secretariat-General to the Shura members, in line with the directives of Secretary-General, Chancellor Osama Ahmed Al-Asfoor.