He also expressed happiness at the increased high-level interactions between both sides

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Tuesday thanked the leadership and Government of Bahrain for taking excellent care of the Indian community, including during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He also expressed happiness at the increased high-level interactions between both countries which has led to further strengthening of bilateral relations, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Muraleedharan's remarks came when Undersecretary (Political Affairs), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Bahrain Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa called on him in New Delhi.

According to the MEA, MoS Muraleedharan received Kingdom of Bahrain’s Instrument of Ratification of International Solar Alliance (ISA) from Shaikh Abdulla.

During the day, Shaikh Abdullah co-chaired the 5th round of India-Bahrain Foreign Office Consultations with Secretary (CPV&OIA), Ministry of External Affairs Ausaf Sayeed.

Both sides agreed to further strengthen their cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, hydrocarbons and renewable energy, health and pharmaceuticals, IT, Fintech, food security, civil aviation, space, defence and security, parliamentary cooperation, culture, education and people-to-people connect focusing on youth, skill development and startups.

Bilateral trade has shown upward trajectory and is likely to be the highest ever in F.Y. 2021-22 at more than USD 1.4 billion, the MEA noted.

According to the MEA, both sides also discussed regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest. Dr. Ausaf Sayeed congratulated Bahrain on the successful year of Presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in 2021 and on taking over the Chairmanship of Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) in November 2021.

Shaikh Abdulla, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (DERASAT), will also meet and interact with scholars and members of Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and India Foundation (IF).