Foreign Minister highlights HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister's official visit to Vatican, Italian Republic as diplomatic milestone
Manama, Sep. 30 (BNA): Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, commended the outcomes and key achievements of the official visit by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the Vatican City and the Italian Republic.
He emphasised the visit’s importance in strengthening historical ties and advancing diplomatic and humanitarian partnerships with both friendly nations, in support of development, peace, and intercultural dialogue. The visit, he noted, reflects the Kingdom’s wise foreign policy approach under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
Dr. Al Zayani noted the significance of the high-level meetings held by HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister during the visit, including with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican, and Her Excellency Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of the Italian Republic, alongside senior officials, political, economic and religious figures.
He said that these meetings marked a key milestone in Bahrain’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to build bridges of international cooperation, reinforce strategic partnerships, and support shared interests, security, peace, coexistence, and sustainable development at the national, regional, and global levels.
The Minister also noted the signing of the Framework Collaboration Agreement on cooperation in investments with Italy, which will open broader opportunities to enhance economic ties and increase trade and investment. He expressed appreciation for Italy’s recognition of Bahrain’s role in hosting the Italian naval forces as part of the Combined Maritime Forces, and its standing as a regional trade and investment hub and an active partner in promoting international peace and security.
Dr. Al Zayani highlighted that the visit reflected a shared diplomatic vision between Bahrain and Italy, particularly in their commitment to regional and global peace and stability. Both sides called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the delivery of humanitarian aid, and support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state under the two-state solution. They also underscored the importance of resolving conflicts peacefully and promoting multilateral cooperation based on the UN Charter. The visit also contributed to deepening the strategic Gulf-European partnership, particularly as Bahrain prepares to host the next GCC Summit and assumes its non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2026 – 2027 term.
The visit also had strong humanitarian, cultural, and civilisational dimensions, reflecting the deep ties Bahrain shares with Italy and the Vatican, grounded in a rich historical legacy and shared human values. It also highlighted international recognition of Bahrain’s pioneering initiatives and its role as a beacon of religious freedom and intercultural dialogue. Among these are the royal call to host an international conference on peace and coexistence, a proposed international convention to combat hate speech, the UN’s adoption of the International Day of Living Together in Peace, the contributions of the King Hamad Global Center for Coexistence and Tolerance, the establishment of the King Hamad Chair for Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence at Sapienza University in Italy, the launch of the King Hamad Award for Coexistence and Tolerance, and Bahrain’s continued hosting of international conferences on interfaith and cultural dialogue all in line with the principles of the "Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration" on freedom of religion and belief.
Dr. Al Zayani emphasised that the historic visit to Italy and the Vatican truly reflects Bahrain’s commitment, under the leadership of His Majesty the King and the guidance of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister to deepening cultural and civilisational exchange and strengthening strategic cooperation with both nations, in pursuit of shared interests and the building of a world founded on peace, tolerance, coexistence, and human fraternity.
