MANAMA: The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ghanim Fadhl Al-Buainain, has affirmed the keenness of the wise leadership on reinforcing the country’s cooperation ties with the People’s Republic of China in all fields, which has ultimately resulted in the launch of numerous projects in both countries to testify to the ever-growing bilateral cooperation.
This came in the statement delivered by Al Buainain to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Bahraini-Chinese diplomatic ties, in the presence of the Chinese Ambassador to the Kingdom, Lee Chin, Foreign Ministry officials and members of the diplomatic corps in Bahrain.
Al Buainain said bilateral ties with China have witnessed a big boost over the past years, following the visit paid by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the talks he held with the Chinese President.
He pointed out to the numerous agreements signed during the royal visit to strengthen ties and reinforce bilateral cooperation, of which was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which is currently under implementation, to launch a branch of China’s Confucius Institute at the University of Bahrain and subsequently bolster intellectual, cultural and academic relations.
He also noted that bilateral relations had been given a tremendous boost by the visit paid by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and the visit paid by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), notably in the women empowerment area.
The Minister of State also lauded the positive impact of the Arab-Chinese Forum, hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2008, saying it propelled bilateral cooperation to a much higher level in many domains.
Al Buainain praised the Bahraini-Chinese cooperation which was area, reflected in reciprocal back-up in what pertains to several issues, citing China’s denunciation of foreign sides’ interference in the Kingdom’s domestic affairs and condemnation of the violence being perpetrated by small groups, in implementation of foreign sides’ instructions.
The Minister of State affirmed that Bahrain backs up the principle of a united China and would support Beijing at international gatherings in case this principle is put at a stake through military maneuvers or Human Rights claims and would regard such encroachments a form of meddling in China’s internal affairs.
Al-Buainain also touched on the $1.7billion worth positive investment and trade outcome, of which Bahrain’s investment in China reached $15.4million against $860million for china’s investment share in Bahrain.
China has taken part in many construction projects which were seen as pillars for our bilateral ties, he said, welcoming cooperation in investment and main infrastructure projects, notably in the housing field. In this regard, he pointed to China’s partnership in a project with Diyar Al Muharraq which spans over an area of 100 km and is being implemented in cooperation with over 30 Chinese companies to be expectedly completed in mid2014.
Al-Buainain underlined the interest Bahrain accords to oil exploration and excavation both on shore and off shore and to the rehabilitation of old oil wells, commending Bahrain-China cooperation in other areas such as in information, technical and cultural fields in addition to China’s participation with Bahrain in Expo 2010 in Shanghai.
Al Buainain affirmed Bahrain’s determination to further reinforce bilateral ties with China and to move with the actual cooperation to much more broader levels.