Bahrain, Japan discuss security, defence policies

The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Abdullah Abdullatif Abdullah held a discussion with Tsukasa Uemura, Director General of Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan to hold the second meeting of the comprehensive security dialogue between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Japan. 

During the meeting, they reviewed the security and defense policies as well as the priorities of the National Defense Programme of the Kingdom of Bahrain and Japan. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments of common concern, including the fight against terrorism. 

The two sides dealt with ways of strengthening and developing bilateral relations, especially in economic, trade and cultural fields. They stressed the need to take advantage of the opportunities available in both countries. 

They also held the third meeting of political consultations between the two countries, based on the memorandum of understanding of April 11, 2012 on political consultations, signed during the historic visit of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to Japan. 

During the consultations, the two sides discussed ways of buttressing bilateral ties mainly in economic, trade and cultural areas, affirming the need to take advantage of the available potential in both countries. 

The Director General of the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan is currently on a visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain, accompanied by the Japanese Ambassador to Bahrain, a delegation from the Japanese Foreign Ministry and a number of officials from the Ministry of Defense and National Security. 

The meeting was attended by a number of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) and the Ministry of the Interior.