Bahrain-Turkmenistan 2nd political consultations meeting held

Manama, July 8 (BNA): The second political consultations meeting between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of Turkmenistan was held in Ashgabat today, under the chairmanship of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for International Affairs, Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, and the Turkmen Deputy Foreign Minister for Turkmenistan’s side. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa extended his appreciation and gratitude for the Government of Turkmenistan for hosting the second political consultations meeting, stressing that the Kingdom of Bahrain is keen on enhancing its bilateral relations with Turkmenistan. The two sides reviewed areas of bilateral cooperation and ways of enhancing joint cooperation in various fields. They also exchanged different views and perspectives on the current events at the regional and international levels as well as combating extremism and terrorism. Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa stressed the importance of this meeting, in light of the high-level visit of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to Turkmenistan in March 2019, which boosted the relations between the two countries, especially that the visit saw the signing of 9 agreements of cooperation and several memorandums of understanding, including ones related to banking, tourism, education, e-gov, transport, culture, and mutual exemption of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and private passports. He added that His Majesty the King was keen, during his visit, on the presence of a number of Bahraini businessmen to meet with their Turkmen counterparts to discuss the opportunities available for trade and investment cooperation, referring to Royal Decree 48/2019, which constitutes on setting up a follow-up committee on the implementation of agreements and memoranda signed between Bahrain and Turkmenistan, and suggesting means to enhance relations, chaired by Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Environment, Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid bin Isa Al Khalifa. The International Affairs Undersecretary added that he was certain that the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the leadership of HM the King, and the Republic of Turkmenistan, under the leadership of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, were laying the groundwork for a comprehensive, constructive and long-term strategic partnership. He also expressed his appreciation of the outcomes of the first political consultation meeting, hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain in July last year, noting that the Kingdom of Bahrain was among the first countries to send a delegation to visit Turkmenistan after it gained independence in 1991. The Undersecretary affirmed that the Kingdom of Bahrain enjoys a qualified human resources, an attractive investment environment and a unique geographic location, which opens up a wide scope for the development of mutual cooperation in the field of investment. He hailed the establishment of the Bahrain-Turkmenistan Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation and the establishment of a Business Council between the two countries. He stressed that the relations between the two countries have promising opportunities, especially in light of the mutual interest in activating signed agreements, the qualitative investments in the fields of energy and gas, petrochemicals, tourism, youth and sports, and linking ports, as well as the Kingdom's leadership in new economic fields based on technical and financial technology, logistics and entrepreneurship, as the Kingdom of Bahrain has established itself as a leading regional model for reform and sustainable development. He added that the two countries share general stances on main issues, foremost of which is the establishment of security and stability, combating terrorism, rejecting external interference in internal affairs, reiterating the Kingdom’s support for the positive neutrality approach adopted by the Republic of Turkmenistan. He stressed that the Gulf and Central Asia face the danger of Iran’s illegal interventions, which are contrary to the principles of good neighborliness and international norms and conventions, which also constitutes a direct threat to regional security and world peace, stressing the importance of joint efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms and to dry up its sources of financing as a necessary and decisive step toward promoting stability and prosperity. The Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan expressed is country's keenness to enhance cooperation and coordination with the Kingdom of Bahrain, expressing appreciation of Bahrain's interest in boosting consultations and bilateral relations, looking forward to reinforcing the same in the interest of the two countries. He also affirmed that the future promises more growth and prosperity for bilateral relations, expressing his country's gratitude for the Kingdom's support for Turkmenistan’s foreign policy and its neutrality, wishing the Kingdom of Bahrain further progress and prosperity.