Shura call to strengthen Bahrain-UK cooperation

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain and the United Kingdom need to continue efforts to strengthen cooperation and joint action in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Shura Council First Deputy Chairman Jamal Mohammed Fakhro said this can be done through exchanging legislative expertise and experiences, opening up new areas of bilateral action, and discussing ways to enhance the deep-rooted bilateral relations. Fakhro made the statements during a virtual parliamentary meeting held by the Shura Council’s Secretariat-General, in cooperation with the UKbased Global Partners Governance, under the theme “Bahrain and the World – Reflection on the Economic and Political Scene after the Spread of COVID-19”.

Several Shura Council members, Member of the UK House of Lords and Advisor to Global Partners Governance, Lord Jeremy Purvis of Tweed and diplomats from Bahrain’s Foreign Affairs Ministry participated in the online forum, moderated by former Deputy Minister at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and former Member of the House of Commons, Alistair Burt.

Fakhro conveyed the greetings to the Shura Council Chairman Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh to the participants, as well as his wishes for success to their meeting, the first of its kind to be held by Shura Council in cooperation with Global Partners Governance. He stressed the importance of the meeting in pushing cooperation and coordination between Bahrain’s Shura Council and the UK parliament further, highlighting Bahrain’s appreciation of its long-standing relations with Great Britain.

He highlighted Bahrain’s successful efforts to confront the pandemic at the health, economic and social levels, citing the sharp drop in the number of daily infections.

Lord Jeremy expressed pride in holding the virtual Bahrain-UK parliamentary meeting, noting that it reflects the advanced level of bilateral relations, and Bahrain’s keenness to develop its national legislation through enriching it with other experiences. He underlined the key role played by parliaments in countries’ response to COVID-19 challenges, through identifying the needs of many fields related to public services, economy and legislation.

Burt praised the Shura Council’s initiative to hold the remote meeting to pave the way for exchanging opinions and legislative experiences that serve countries during this period, voicing pride in Shura Council members’ opinions and proposals that contribute to enhancing parliamentary action between the two kingdoms, as well as strengthen their direct communication and coordination visa-vis issues of mutual interest.