Boost to Bahrain-Oman fraternal ties

Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa affirmed that the meeting of the Joint Bahraini-Omani Joint Committee reflects the keenness of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Sultan bin Said of Oman to further develop the longstanding bilateral relations and cooperation in all fields for the benefit of both countries and people. He added that the meeting aims at continuing the successful march of the Gulf Cooperation Council to achieve prosperity and stability to all its people.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered a speech during the 6th session of the Bahraini-Omani Joint Committee, which was held today in Salalah, Sultanate of Oman, during which he noted that such meetings provide several opportunities to review and develop bilateral cooperation in all areas and strengthen joint coordination regarding all issues. He went on to highlight the role of these meetings in helping the two countries in the face of all challenges of the region in order to preserve security, sovereignty and stability as well as protect the national gains.

Shaikh Khalid expressed thanks and appreciation to the members of the joint committee for their continued efforts in discussing means to further enhance cooperation between the two countries. In this regard, he highlighted the signed memorandums of understanding in the fields of culture, tourism cooperation and civil retirement, as well as the operational programs on environmental protection, climate affairs and youth and sports.

This statement was issued as a result of the 6th session of the Joint Omani-Bahraini Committee:
Upon the invitation of the Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs of Oman, Yousef Bin Alawi Bin Abdullah., the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, has went on an official visit to the Sultanate of Oman on September 3-4, 2018.

In an atmosphere of cordiality and fraternity that embodies the depth of the distinguished historic brotherly relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman and their peoples, and under the directives of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman, and his brother His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Omani-Bahrain Joint Committee held its 6th session in Salalah, Sultanate of Oman, on Tuesday, September 4, 2018, under the chairmanship of Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, with the participation of a number of senior officials from the two brotherly countries.

The two sides reviewed the bilateral cooperation and expressed their great satisfaction at the level they have reached. They also stressed the importance of moving forward to enhance bilateral cooperation in all political, security, economic, trade, industrial, judicial, developmental and educational fields, in addition to media, manpower, civil services, social development.

The two sides also discussed regional and international issues of interest, and had the same views in that regard.

To affirm the importance of continuing and enhancing the cooperation between the two brotherly countries, the two sides signed memorandums of understanding and operational programs in the following areas:

Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Heritage and Culture of the Sultanate of Oman and Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the field of culture.

Memorandum of Understanding in the field of tourism cooperation between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman represented by the Ministry of Tourism and the Government of Bahrain represented by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism.

Memorandum of Understanding between the Civil Service Employees Pension Fund of the Sultanate of Oman and the General Authority for Pension Fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the field of civil retirement.

Operational Program between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman represented by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs and the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain represented by the Supreme Council for Environment in the field of environmental protection and climate affairs, for the years (2018-2021).

Operational Program for cooperation in the fields of youth and sports between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman represented by the Ministry of Sport Affairs and the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain represented by the Ministry of Youth and Sport Affairs, for the years (2018-2021).

At the conclusion of the committee work, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, on behalf of himself and the accompanying delegation, expressed thanks and appreciation for the hospitality they received during their visit to the Sultanate of Oman. He invited the Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Sultanate of Oman, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, and members of the Committee from the Omani side to visit their country, the Kingdom of Bahrain to hold the next session next year.