Ties at new high

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa yesterday held a bilateral session of talks with visited Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow at the presidential palace in Ashgabat. President Berdimuhamedow delivered a speech welcoming HM the King’s visit to his country, announcing that Turkmenistan and Bahrain would celebrate 25 years of diplomatic relations. He commended political, trade and economic relations binding the two countries, stressing the importance of the visit which will further expand business cooperation. He also wished the Kingdom further security and stability, led by HM the King. HM the King thanked Turkmen president for the invitation, stressing Bahrain’s strides in the sectors of culture, sciences, medicine, infrastructure and education. His Majesty extended an invitation to President Berdimuhamedow to pay an official visit to Bahrain to further bolster bilateral relations and expand joint co-operation. The two leaders then held an expanded session of talks in the presence of delegations representing the two countries. Addressing the session, HM the King recalled the visit of President Berdimuhamedow in 2011, stressing Bahrain’s keenness on following-up on the agreements and memoranda of understanding and strengthening relations. His Majesty stressed the importance of developing joint cooperation, underlining keenness on expanding trade, economic and investment ties and exploring oil and gas cooperation. HM the King hailed the neutrality of Turkmenistan, which reflects its commitment to development, security and peace in the Central Asian region and the world. The two sides welcomed the establishment of a joint council between the two countries. Key issues of mutual interest were also discussed between the two leaders. The two leaders then attended the signing of a string of joint agreements and memoranda of understanding. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the heads of central banks of both nations while Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa signed deals to extend co-operation in the areas of transportation, eGovernance, education, youth and women empowerment and culture with Turkmenistan ministers. A separate MoU was signed in the field of tourism by Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Zayed Al Zayani and Turkmenistan Government Committee for Tourism. HM the King and the Turkmenistan president hailed the signing of the agreements and the memoranda of understanding which would herald a new phase in bilateral relations binding the two countries. President Berdimuhamedow conferred the medal of Neutral Turkmenistan, on HM King Hamad, in recognition of his role in supporting bilateral relations binding the two brotherly countries.