Reaching new heights
King Hamad, Najib witness signing of deals to strengthen bilateral ties
TIES between Malaysia and Bahrain reached new heights last night with the signing of several agreements. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Bahraini King Hamad Isa Al Khalifa witnessed the signing of four memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and an agreement on Air Services.
Malaysia and Bahrain agreed to a defence cooperation that was signed by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Bahrain’s Defence Minister Lieutenant-General Diyab Saqr Al Nuaimi.
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Bahraini Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed R. Alzayani inked an MoU on small- and medium-scale enterprise and industrial cooperation.
Petronas and Bahrain’s National Oil and Gas Authority inked an MoU on upstream and liquefied natural gas cooperation.
The signatories were Petronas chief executive officer Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin and Bahrain Oil and Gas Affairs Minister Shaikh Mohamed Ahmed Al Khalifa.
The fourth MoU was signed between the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia and Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Bahrain Foreign Affairs Minister Shaikh Khalid Ahmed Mohamed Al Khalifa signed the Air Services Agreement.
Earlier, King Hamad and Najib had a meeting to deliberate on matters of shared interests between the two countries.
Bilateral relations between Malaysia and Bahrain remains close since diplomatic ties were established in 1974, with bilateral trade value of the two countries standing at RM861.5 million, an increase of 97.6 per cent compared with the previous year.
The king, who is on a four-day state visit that began on Sunday, arrived at Seri Perdana here at 8.45pm. He later attended an official dinner hosted by the prime minister at his official residence here.
King Hamad’s visit is a historic moment for Malaysia as this is a Bahraini ruler’s first trip here in 43 years of diplomatic relations.
The king, who is on his maiden visit to Malaysia since he ascended the throne on May 6, 1999, is scheduled to depart for Brunei today.