Manama: Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s foreign minister, has heaped praise on the first official visit by Qatar’s Emir Shaikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani to Bahrain.
“The visit reflects the deep-rooted and robust relations between the leaders and peoples of the two countries,” Shaikh Khalid said. “The visit reinforces the bonds between Manama and Doha at the bilateral levels and within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC),” the minister said in a statement carried on Tuesday by Bahrain News Agency (BNA).
Shaikh Tamim arrived in Manama on Monday for a two-day visit as part of a Gulf tour that includes Kuwait, the UAE and Oman.
He had visited Saudi Arabia in August in his first official trip abroad after he became the Emir of Qatar in June.
“The talks between HM King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa and his brother His Highness Shaikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani and their significant and positive outcomes reinforced their common wish to assist understanding and mutual trust between the two sides and to support political, economic, commercial and security cooperation,” Shaikh Khalid said.
Manama and Doha had agreed to build a causeway that would link the two countries. The latest technical details are scheduled to be reviewed when Bahraini and Qatari officials meet on Wednesday.
Bahrain’s only terrestrial link with a neighbouring country is the 25-kilometre King Fahad Causeway with Saudi Arabia.
Thousands of vehicles use it daily and the numbers increase impressively during the weekend and holidays, making it one of the busiest links between two Arab countries.
