Manama: His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, co-chaired the fourth meeting of the Bahraini-Saudi Coordination Council in Bahrain. The meeting was held under the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, highlighting the deep-rooted ties and shared aspirations between the two nations.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Prince Salman bin Hamad welcomed Prince Mohammed bin Salman and emphasized the enduring and strengthening relationship between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. He acknowledged the support from both monarchs, which has resulted in partnerships driving mutual growth and benefits. Prince Salman also praised Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s role in supporting joint initiatives that align with the aspirations of both countries.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed his pleasure at visiting Bahrain and meeting with its leaders. He underscored the commitment from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to enhance cooperation and advance bilateral relations in various fields. He also thanked Prince Salman for the warm reception and the organization of the meeting.
The meeting resulted in several significant announcements, including the phased implementation of an electronic integration system for the King Fahd Causeway, activation of electronic gates for e-passport holders at airports, facilitation of proof of origin procedures for Bahraini exports to Saudi Arabia, and scholarships for Bahraini students in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, agreements were made on intellectual property registration, Bahrain’s accession to the MENA RSOO, and various investments and projects in telecommunications, energy, and infrastructure.
Several agreements and memoranda of understanding were established, covering areas such as double taxation avoidance, direct investment encouragement, competition protection, diplomatic studies cooperation, nuclear safety, and railway training. The two countries also agreed on sustainable development strategies and non-profit sector procedures.
The leaders decided to hold the fifth meeting of the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council in Saudi Arabia, with the date to be determined by the Council’s General Secretariat. Senior officials and heads of the Council’s subcommittees were present at the meeting.