India, Bahrain express satisfaction over continued momentum in bilateral ties despite COVID-19 restrictions

New Delhi [India], March 28 India and Bahrain on Monday expressed satisfaction at the continued momentum in bilateral ties despite the restrictions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic at the fifth India - Bahrain Foreign Office Consultations (FOC).

During the FOC, both delegations discussed all areas of bilateral cooperation and reviewed the progress made since the 3rd High Joint Commission meeting co-chaired by EAM and FM of Bahrain in April 2021 in New Delhi, read the Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release.

India and Bahrain celebrated the Golden Jubilee of the establishment of diplomatic relations in October 2021.

Both sides are looking forward to an early visit of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain to India, added the release.

Both sides agreed to further strengthen their cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, hydrocarbons and renewable energy, health and pharmaceuticals, IT, Fintech, food security, civil aviation, space, defence and security, parliamentary cooperation, culture, education and people-to-people connect focusing on youth, skill development and startups.

Bilateral trade has shown an upward trajectory and is likely to be the highest ever in F.Y. 2021-22 at more than USD 1.4 billion. Both sides also discussed regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.

Dr Ausaf Sayeed, Secretary (CPV&OIA), Ministry of External Affairs, GOI and Dr Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa Undersecretary (Political Affairs), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Bahrain co-chaired the 5th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and Kingdom of Bahrain in New Delhi today.

Dr Shaikh Abdulla also met Deputy NSA, Vikram Misri and called on MOS for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan.

MoS V Muraleedharan fondly recalled his visit to Bahrain in August 2021 and expressed happiness at the increased high-level interactions between both countries which has led to further strengthening of bilateral relations, read the release.

He also received Bahrain's Instrument of Ratification of International Solar Alliance (ISA) from Dr Shaikh Abdulla. MOS thanked the Leadership and Government of Bahrain for taking excellent care of the Indian community, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Ausaf Sayeed congratulated Bahrain on the successful year of Presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in 2021 and on taking over the Chairmanship of Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) in November 2021, added the release.

Dr Shaikh Abdulla, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (DERASAT), will also meet and interact with scholars and members of Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and India Foundation (IF).

He arrived in New Delhi on March 27 and is scheduled to depart on March 29.

( With inputs from ANI )