Gudaibiya Palace: His Royal Highness, Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, has affirmed that achieving peace, security and stability requires an international will, understanding and strategic partnership in order to thwart all potential threats, and shift focus to development.
“In the region, we want a secure and stable Gulf whose countries are united in order to enhance progress and development, face challenges, and be supportive to international organisations to help them achieve their noble human message,” he said.
He made the statements as he received at the Gudaibiya Palace on Sunday the Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) LI Yong, currently on a visit to the Kingdom to take part in the First International Entrepreneurs Investment Forum 2014, held under HRH Premier’s patronage.
HRH Premier asserted that the road to peace and prosperity is not well-paved, and needs concerted international efforts so that countries of the region focus development, whose fruits are reaped by their peoples, instead of being distracted by conflicts and combating terrorism, which, he said, may affect those countries’ steady steps towards achieving development goals.
“The experiences of the region, in particular, and the world, in general, have proved that conflicts and terrorism are the main reasons behind the delay of human development projects and the obstacles facing their completion. Therefore, the International Community should direct all its potentials towards more fruitful cooperation for the sake of achieving a more prosperous world,” he said.
He stressed that the world is facing the challenges of instability, which is prevailing in many countries of the region, as well as economic difficulties, which, he affirmed, requires joint international efforts that harness all potentials and resources to serve development goals, especially the industrial ones through which decent living can be ensured for peoples.
HRH Premier underscored the government’s constant keenness to consolidate cooperation and coordination with UNIDO in a way that contributes to supporting its plans aiming to achieve sustainable comprehensive development.
He praised the crucial role played by UNIDO in backing the efforts of developing countries and supporting them at industrial development and modernisation, lauding UNIDO’s efforts in providing experts and support for the kingdom’s various projects and programmes.
UNIDO Director-General LI Yong valued highly the key role played by the government, led by HRH Premier, in supporting UN industrial projects.
He asserted that UN efforts are focused on achieving peace and stability through promoting the culture of understanding and tolerance in order to pave the way for development that reflects on peoples’ standards of living.