Bahrain Crown Prince stresses depth of ties

Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifah, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, yesterday said Qatar-Bahraini relations have historic and social dimensions.In a statement on arrival in Doha yesterday, the Bahraini Crown Prince said: “I am pleased to pay this official visit to the sisterly State of Qatar to meet my brother HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.” He said the visit comes as part of King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifah’s keenness to promote joint action with brothers in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) member states.The exchange of visits between brothers has a pivotal impact on enhancing co-operation and co-ordination on all political, development and economic levels and the formulation of understandings about how to deal effectively with any challenges or circumstances facing the region, he added.The Bahraini Crown Prince said the visit comes only days after Bahrain’s Prime Minister Prince Khalifah bin Salman al-Khalifah’ s visit to Doha, which confirms the strong bilateral relations and keenness to enhance co-operation and co-ordination for the benefit of both countries and peoples as well as to support the path of the GCC member states.Meanwhile, the Emir hosted at the Emiri Diwan a luncheon banquet in honour of the Crown Prince.The banquet was attended by HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani, HH Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Personal Representative of the Emir, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani along with several sheikhs and ministers.On the Bahraini side, it was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Mubarak al-Khalifah, the Representative of the Bahraini King for Charity and Youth Affairs, President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad al-Khalifah, Interior Minister Lieutenant-General Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah al-Khalifah and Minister of Finance Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohamed al-Khalifah.Earlier the Emir held talks with the Bahraini Crown Prince.Their talks dealt with the deep fraternal relations between the two countries and means of enhancing them in all fields to better serve the common interest of the two countries.The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of concern for both countries and the GCC member states as well as the latest developments in the region.The meeting was attended by HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani, HH Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior along with sheikhs and ministers.On the Bahraini side, the meeting was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Representative of the King of Bahrain for Charity and Youth Affairs, President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad al-Khalifah, Interior Minister Lieutenant-General Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah al-Khalifah and Minister of Finance Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohamed al-Khalifah.Earlier, HH the Deputy Emir welcomed the Crown Prince and his accompanying delegation at the Hamad International Airport.The Crown Prince was accorded an official reception ceremony.HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and and the Bahraini Crown Prince toured the Hamad International Airport (HIA).They were briefed on its sections such as the first class, business class and and passenger terminals.They also listened to a presentation on HIA’s capacity, future plans and its utilities as well as security systems and air navigation.