His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Monday received at Al-Sakhir Airbase the Saudi Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Defence Minister HRH Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud who arrived here today to head his country’s delegation to the 33rd Summit of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), started later on Monday.
His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander, senior Ruling Family members, Speaker of the Representatives Council, Chairman of the Shura Council, Secretary-General of the GCC Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, ministers, the Saudi Ambassador to Bahrain, Southern Governor, Senior officers of the Bahrain Defence Force, Interior Ministry and the National Guard and the Saudi Embassy’s staff were also present.
After a short pause at the Grand Royal Protocol Hall at the base, during which he exchanged cordial talks with HM the King on the outstanding fraternal Bahraini-Saudi ties, the Saudi Crown Prince left to his residence at the Sakhir Palace.
A Convoy of Honour, led by HM the King’s Personal Representative Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, will accompany the Saudi Crown Prince during his stay in the kingdom.
HRH Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud delivered a statement in which he conveyed greetings from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques king Abdulla bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to HM King Hamad and the Bahraini government and people.
He also said that he was honoured by King Abdulla to take part in the GCC Summit on his behalf and convey greetings and good wishes of success to GCC leaders, adding that the Saudi Monarch expressed confidence that the wisdom of HM King Hamad and other GCC leaders will ensure the success of the Summit through bolstering the GCC march and achieving the goals set by GCC leaders to meet GCC peoples’ aspirations of complementarity and unity.
HRH Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz concluded his statement by expressing sincere thanks and appreciation to HM King Hamad for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to him in Bahrain, wishing the Summit every success.
The official delegation accompanying HRH Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to the Manama Summit includes Foreign Affairs Minister HRH Prince Saud Al-Faisal; Special Advisor to the Crown Prince and Supervisor of his Office and Private Affairs HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud; Member of the Cabinet and Minister of State Musaid al-Aiban; Finance Minister Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf; Deputy Chief of the Royal Protocols Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Shalhoub and Director-General of the Defense Minister’s Office Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Al-Banyan.