HM King’s visit to Russia is important and timely : Putin

Moscow : Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that opening talks with visiting His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa was very timely.

“Today, it is very important to speak about your vision of what is going on in the world,” Putin said, addressing HM the King. “I had an opportunity to speak in China [at the G20 summit] with your colleagues from the region. In light of this, your visit is very timely.”

“I hope your visit will be as fruitful as our previous meeting,” he added. During the meeting at Kremlin, HM the King said that his visit to Russia was a continuation of the positive relations between the two countries and of the past agreements that were being implemented. 

King Hamad said that cooperation between Manama and Moscow has been steadily progressing particularly in the economic, commercial, investment, defence, cultural, tourism and energy fields.

Meanwhile, HM the King yesterday visited the International military-technical forum “Army-2016” being held in Kubinka, Moscow. 

The King was received upon arrival at the Army-2016 forum by Russian Deputy Prime Minister for military-industrial complex, Dmitry Rogozin, and the Russian Defence Minister General Sergei Shoigu. He also inspected the Russian Guard of Honour. HM the King was briefed on the latest Russian military technology of the exhibited military equipment, including the high-tech Russian air defence missile system (S-400) and the latest Russian T-14 Armata tanks.

King Hamad, after the tour, held official talks with the Russian Deputy Prime Minister on aspects of cooperation in the field of space science between Bahrain and Russia. 

His Majesty stressed the importance of benefiting from the Russian expertise to meet Bahrain’s future goals and aspirations in the field of space science. 

The King, in a press statement at the conclusion of his visit to the Army-2016 forum, expressed appreciation of the generous invitation of Putin.

HM the King stressed benefiting from the Russian military experience through the participation of Bahrain’s military delegations in the key military forum. An intergovernmental agreement on military-technical cooperation between Russia and Bahrain will be signed following a meeting between Vladimir Putin and HM the King. Defence Affairs Minister Lieutenant-General Yousuf bin Ahmed Al-Jalahma accompanied HM the King. 

He paid tribute to HM the King, lauding dedicated Royal efforts to upgrade the defence and combat capabilities of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) and supply it with latest defence systems and weaponry.

Lt. Gen. Al-Jalahma will co-sign with his Russian counterpart a military cooperation agreement.