They discussed ways to promote cooperation to meet common aspirations

In keeping with the long-standing ties between India and Bahrain, India’s Ambassador Piyush Srivastava called on Bahrain Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani on Wednesday where they discussed topics of shared interests including Covid-19.

“Ambassador Piyush Srivastava called on H.E. Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and discussed a wide range of matters of bilateral cooperation,” the Indian Embassy in Bahrain said in a tweet.

Elaborating the agenda of the meeting, the Bahrain News Agency said that the meeting discussed the course of friendly relations between Bahrain and India and ways to promote cooperation to meet common aspirations.

The meeting also reviewed topics of shared interest, primarily ways to bolster cooperation and coordination to face the repercussions of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the agency added.

Bahrain was the first country in West Asia to receive Indian-made vaccines on 28 January. Bahrain received 100,000 Covid-19 vaccines developed by the Serum Institute of India as a gift from India.

After Indian-made vaccines reached Bahrain, Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar had said, “A testimony to our long-standing fraternal ties.”

In a post on Twitter, Bahrain Crown Prince, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who is also the Prime Minister, had thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi ‘and our friends in India for working with us to secure the delivery of’ the vaccine.

India and Bahrain ties have drawn closer with high-level engagements. In November last year, Jaishankar had visited Bahrain. During the visit, India's EAM had thanked the leadership of the country for taking "exceptional care" of the Indian community in the country amid the pandemic.