Manama: Bahrain is keen on enhancing its relations and cooperation with Russia in various areas, a senior official has said.
“Bahraini-Russian relations are progressing steadily thanks to the two countries’ mutual respect, understanding vis-a-vis many regional and global issues, and shared keenness on building constructive and fruitful cooperation ties,” Shaikh Salman Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, the adviser to the prime minister, said.
He was speaking in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where he held a meeting with Vice-Governor Oleg Markov.
The economic, trade and investment fields are areas of cooperation that should be broadened in light of the robust and outstanding ties binding the two countries, he said.
Shaikh Salman was in the Russian city to represent Prime Minister Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa in the 20th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2016), held under the patronage of the Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During a meeting with Elivra Nabiullna, the Bank of Russia governor, Shaikh Salman reviewed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, especially in the financial and banking fields, as well as other economic and investment areas.
He expressed Bahrain’s interest in activating the agreements with Russia in order to increase the volume of bilateral trade.
In November, Bahrain and Russia marked the silver jubilee of their diplomatic relations.
Diplomatic relations between Manama and Moscow started in September 1990 when Bahrain and the former Soviet Union established diplomatic relations “on the basis of mutual respect, sovereignty and territorial integrity for both countries and in line with the UN constituent covenant and the international law.”
The ambassador of the then USSR presented his credentials in Manama in July 1991.
In December 1991, Bahrain recognised the Russian Federation as the successor state of the Soviet Union and the ambassador of Bahrain presented his credentials in Moscow in February 1992.
