The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, held a joint Press conference with the Republic of the Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Albert Del Rosario and shed a light on areas of co-operation and both sides keenness to further bolster ties.
The Foreign Minister welcomed his counterpart and accompanying delegation, expressing his appreciation at the progress of friendly ties and cooperation as well as praising the keenness of the two countries in bolstering these relations and to continue bilateral consultations.
Shaikh Khalid said that he discussed with his counterpart the means of bolstering cooperation in various fields and that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two ministries related to bilateral consultation, exchange of views and coordination on issues of mutual interest.
The Foreign Minister added that the agreement also included hosting a meeting by a joint committee between the two countries in February 2014 in Manila, the Republic of the Philippines, to sign a number of agreements that are currently being reviewed.
Shaikh Khalid praised the role of the Filipino community in Bahrain, expressing his pride in their contribution to the Bahraini community.
He affirmed in this regard the care given by the government of Bahrain to the Filipino community.
The Foreign Minister also praised the role of the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs and its ambassador for the efforts exerted in bolstering relations between the two countries.
The Republic of the Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs expressed his thanks to the government of Bahrain, particularly the Foreign Minister for the opportunity to work closely on and promote common goals of peace and security.
He affirmed that the Memorandum of Understanding would establish an important mechanism that will allow their ministries to evaluate ties on a regular basis, address issues of concern and establish new areas for cooperation.
The Secretary of Foreign Affairs affirmed the close relations between the two countries and the constant support of the Kingdom of Bahrain, which he said was one of his country’s strongest trading partners in the area.
He added that Bahrain was home to more than 60,000 Filipino workers and that throughout the years it has been a true friend.