Bahrain and Russia Celebrate 35 Years of Diplomatic Relations

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh, Speaker of Bahrain’s Shura Council, highlighted the deep and longstanding relationship between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Russian Federation during his official visit to Moscow.

He praised the strong ties and promising development partnerships between the two nations, which have steadily grown thanks to continuous support from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Speaker emphasized the close friendship and ongoing cooperation aimed at benefiting both countries and their peoples.

Al Saleh also noted the shared developmental visions of Bahrain and Russia and the joint efforts to strengthen cooperation across various sectors. He acknowledged the important roles of Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in sustaining the momentum of bilateral relations.

The remarks came during a productive parliamentary meeting with Valentina Matviyenko, Chairwoman of the Federation Council of Russia, held at the Council’s headquarters. The visit, extended by an official invitation from Matviyenko, marks a significant step in parliamentary cooperation.

Expressing pride in the visit, Al Saleh said the discussions will help deepen Bahraini-Russian ties, open new avenues for parliamentary collaboration, and celebrate 35 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

He also highlighted the pivotal royal visits made by King Hamad over the past 25 years, which have expanded partnerships through various agreements in multiple fields.

The Speaker praised the impressive growth in Bahrain-Russia relations, including promising joint development projects and cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, and education. He expressed confidence that both countries hold strong foundations to explore more investment opportunities, especially in food security, energy, tourism, and culture.

Al Saleh thanked Russia for supporting Bahrain’s nomination as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, noting that this step reflects Bahrain’s commitment to global peace and stability. He also acknowledged Russia’s remarkable progress and its role in promoting international security.

In response, Valentina Matviyenko warmly welcomed the Bahraini delegation and stressed that the visit opens doors to enhanced parliamentary relations and the exchange of legislative experiences. She reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to strengthening friendship and cooperation with Bahrain and highlighted efforts to build joint stances on regional and international issues.

Matviyenko also praised Bahrain’s impressive urban development and economic progress, which she recently witnessed firsthand during her visit. She commended Bahrain’s unique model of coexistence, tolerance, religious diversity, and its global role in promoting dialogue and human fraternity—initiatives strongly supported by the King.

She further admired Bahrain’s leading role in women’s empowerment, recognizing the significant achievements of Bahraini women in contributing to the nation’s advancement and their prominent regional and international presence.

Matviyenko emphasized that the strong Bahrain-Russia relationship is built on mutual respect and shared goals, aiming for sustained cooperation and prosperity.

The parliamentary talks were attended by Bahrain’s Second Deputy Speaker Dr. Jihad Al-Fadhel, Khalid Al-Masqati, Chair of the Financial and Economic Committee, Dr. Mohamed Ali Hassan Ali, Chair of the Public Facilities and Environment Committee, and Karima Al-Abbasi, Secretary General of the Shura Council. From the Russian side, several Federation Council members, including Senators from Chechnya and others responsible for tourism, defense, and parliamentary groups, participated. Bahrain’s Ambassador to Russia, Ahmed Al-Sa’ati, was also present.

During the visit, the Bahraini delegation toured the main hall of the Federation Council and reviewed the council’s operational procedures and technical systems used in parliamentary sessions.