Bahrain minister holds talks with Sushma Swaraj

Bahrain, a key Gulf partner, and India held their first High Joint Commission meeting here Sunday during the meeting between its foreign minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral, regional and other issues of mutual interest.

The Bahraini minister was paying an official visit to India Feb 22 at the invitation of Sushma Swaraj, who is also overseas Indian affairs minister. He was here to co-chair the first meeting of the India-Bahrain High Joint Commission with her.

India and Bahrain enjoy cordial and friendly relations, marked by close people to people contacts and regular high-level political exchanges.

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, paid his first State visit to India in February 2014.

Bahrain is an important partner for India in the Gulf with bilateral trade in 2013-14 exceeding $1.3 billion. Over 400,000 Indian nationals work and contribute to the development of Bahrain.