Bahrain and Syria reaffirm strong bilateral ties during President Al-Sharaa’s official visit
Manama, May 10 (BNA): His Excellency Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and His Excellency Asaad Al-Shaibani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Arab Republic, held a joint press conference today to mark the official visit of His Excellency President Ahmed Al-Sharaa of Syria to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
At the outset, Minister Al Zayani highlighted that His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa had held wide-ranging talks with President Al-Sharaa, in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The discussions underscored the deep-rooted fraternal relations between the two nations and reviewed avenues for expanding cooperation in various sectors, including trade, civil aviation, energy, health, and education.
The two sides also reviewed the latest developments in Syria, including national efforts to uphold security, stability, and societal unity, as well as to meet the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people. Both parties emphasised the importance of Syria’s engagement with the international community to secure political, economic, and developmental support.
Minister Al Zayani stated that His Majesty the King reaffirmed to President Al-Sharaa Bahrain’s unwavering support for Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and efforts to restore peace and stability as well as restore the role of Syria at the regional and international levels, and to support its efforts to lift economic sanctions.
His Majesty praised the new Syrian leadership’s initiatives to unify the Syrian people and acknowledged the significance of the outcomes of Syria’s National Dialogue Conference in addressing complex national challenges.
His Majesty also emphasised the importance of regional initiatives, particularly the Bahrain Summit, in fostering Arab solidarity and supporting comprehensive peace efforts. He expressed his hope for the success of the upcoming Baghdad Summit in furthering Arab cooperation and integration.
His Majesty the King directed continued consultation and coordination between both nations and called for the review of existing agreements and memoranda of understanding. He also encouraged mutual exchanges of delegations and expertise to reinforce bilateral relations.
For his part, Foreign Minister Al-Shaibani expressed his sincere appreciation to the Government and people of Bahrain for their generous hospitality, which reflects the noble values of the Arab people and the strong brotherly ties shared between the two nations.
Minister Al-Shaibani described the visit as a turning point in bilateral relations, opening a new chapter based on mutual trust and respect. He noted Bahrain’s longstanding support for the Syrian people and emphasised the depth of the relationship, noting that Bahrain was among the first countries to welcome and send official letters, especially the letter of His Majesty the King to President Ahmed Al-Sharaa.
He reaffirmed Syria’s commitment to broadening cooperation with Bahrain, particularly in the areas of economic development, investment, and post-conflict reconstruction.
The Syrian Foreign Minister said that he views the Kingdom as an active partner at this stage, especially in the reconstruction phase, and a major contributor to the efforts to revive the Syrian economy.
Highlighting the importance of institutional communication, public-private partnerships, and cultural and scientific exchange, Minister Al-Shaibani underscored Syria’s keenness to establish a sustainable framework for bilateral collaboration.
He reiterated Syria’s firm stance on preserving its unity and sovereignty, and categorically rejected any foreign interference that seeks to divide or dismantle it. He renewed Syria’s call for the lifting of economic sanctions, which he described as a humanitarian and regional necessity, as stability in Syria would contribute positively to regional security and reduce risks of migration, poverty, and extremism.
In closing, Minister Al-Shaibani extended his heartfelt gratitude to His Majesty the King, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, the government, and people of Bahrain for their warm welcome. He expressed his sincere wishes for Bahrain’s continued prosperity and for the further strengthening of relations between the two brotherly nations.
