Manama: His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa received His Excellency Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus, at Al Gudaibiya Palace. The meeting was also attended by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, marking the Cypriot President's official visit to the Kingdom.
According to Bahrain News Agency, a formal reception ceremony was held upon the arrival of the President, which included the national anthems of Cyprus and Bahrain and 21 artillery salutes. His Majesty the King exchanged greetings with distinguished Bahraini officials and welcomed the Cypriot delegation.
The official talks between King Hamad and President Christodoulides focused on enhancing cooperation in key sectors such as the economy, investment, trade, culture, and tourism, alongside discussing regional and international developments of mutual interest. The Cypriot President expressed gratitude for the hospitality and highlighted the significance of his visit in strengthening bilateral ties.
An expanded session followed the talks, attended by senior officials from both countries. His Majesty the King delivered a speech emphasizing the longstanding relationship between the two nations and the expected outcomes of the Cypriot President's visit, including the opening of the Cyprus Embassy and the Bahrain-Cyprus Business Forum, along with nine agreements in various fields.
President Christodoulides, in his speech, reiterated the importance of strengthening Bahrain-Cyprus relations and acknowledged the growth in bilateral cooperation across sectors like defence, trade, and education. He emphasized the strategic timing of his visit, coinciding with Cyprus' presidency of the European Union Council and Bahrain's leadership in the Gulf Cooperation Council.
In the presence of both leaders, several agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed, covering areas such as academic recognition, cultural cooperation, military cooperation, tourism, and technology. The agreements aim to enhance bilateral cooperation and strategic partnerships between Bahrain and Cyprus.
The visit concluded with a luncheon hosted by His Majesty in honor of the Cypriot President and his delegation, further cementing the friendly relations between the two countries. The Mission of Honour accompanying the Cypriot President was led by Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce.