Bahrain-Thailand agree to increase cooperation

His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa chaired the Bahraini side and Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha led his country’s delegation at the talk session held today at Qudaibiya Palace.

The two sides agreed to broaden economic, trade and investment cooperation; promote joint ventures between private sectors of the two countries; strengthen cooperation in areas of agriculture, public health, education, tourism, transportation, as well as to reinforce coordination on regional and global developments in international forums.

Both country’s foreign ministers were assigned to follow up the work of the joint supreme committee to be held at the earliest possible date. The relevant ministers were also commissioned to activate the signed agreements, memoranda of understanding and executive programmes totaling 26 ones.

An official reception was held in honour of the Thai Premier. After the national anthems were played, the two leaders inspected the guards of honour lined up to salute them.

The talks mainly focused on activating agreements have been signed in various fields, as well as economic, trade and investment cooperation to reinforce joint interests that boost bilateral friendship and cooperation relations.

The two sides attached great significance to the meeting aimed at promoting bilateral relations at political, economic and trade levels.

Ways to enhance joint cooperation in various areas, including trade, investment and tourism were also reviewed.

HRH Prime Minister commended the solid Bahraini-Thai relations and keenness of both sides to further push them to wider horizons.

The Thai Prime Minister expressed appreciation of the warm welcome and hospitality delivered, which accentuates the depth of the relations bonding the two kingdoms. He also hailed HRH Premier’s efforts to bolster Gulf-Thai relations.

He praised the development and progress seen by the Kingdom of Bahrain, which reflect the government’s development policy. He welcomed Bahrain’s support for Thailand to host the Asian-Gulf ministerial meeting to be held at a later time this year.

In the presence of the two leaders, a protocol on the amendment of a number of articles of the avoidance of double taxation agreement between Bahrain and Thailand was signed. Foreign Affairs Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa represented Bahrain and Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai represented his country at the signing ceremony.

An MoU on agricultural cooperation was signed by Minister Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Essam Khalaf, and Minister of Agriculture and Cooperative, General Chatchai Sarikulya.

An MoU between the University of Bahrain and Prince of Songkla University signed by presidents Dr. Riyadh Yusuf Hamza and Dr. Chusak Limsakul.

HRH Prime Minister hosted a lunch banquet in honour of the Thai Prime Minister and the accompanying delegation. A number of senior Bahraini officials were also present.