India, Bahrain agree to deepen ties

NEW DELHI, Nov 3 (KUNA) -- India and Bahrain agreed on Monday to cement their cooperation in several areas of mutual interests after holding the fifth High Joint Commission meeting in New Delhi.
A statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that both sides reviewed progress made in bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction at the regular high-level exchanges between the two countries in the meeting chaired by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullatif Al-Zayani who arrived in New Delhi on Sunday, heading a high level delegation.
New initiatives with a view to further strengthening ongoing cooperation in areas including defence, security, economic, trade, investment, customs, health, fintech, space, culture and people-to-people ties were discussed.
They welcomed the progress made on trade, economic and commerce front as the ilateral trade reached USD 1.64 billion in the last fiscal year, emphasizing the potential for further growth and diversification of trade in areas such as electronics, petroleum products, processed foods, base metals and gems and jewellery.
Both sides also stressed the fostering of closer cooperation between investment authorities and private sector to further diversify and expand bilateral trade and investment ties while noting the progress made toward establishing the Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment.
They expressed satisfaction at the progress made in deepening collaboration in various facets of space cooperation and enhancing future collaboration in the areas of defence and security and culture.
The two ministers also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. "They welcomed the positive development in regards to the situation in Gaza which has helped to ease geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and stressed the importance of implementing the terms of President Trump's peace plan by all parties," the statement said. (end) atk.mt