Bahrain, Shenzhen sign 8 major deals

Bahrain yesterday announced signing eight landmark agreements with Shenzhen in the areas of technology and transportation to further deepen economic and trade ties as China and Bahrain next year marks 30 years of diplomatic relations.

The deals were signed by a senior delegation from Bahrain led by the Capital Governor Sheikh Hisham Bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, during a visit organized by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) to Shenzhen, China.

They met with Ai Xuefeng, Vice Mayor of Shenzhen and a number of local government officials and business leaders at the Bahrain – Shenzhen Business Forum and the China HighTech Fair. “Our partnership with Shenzhen was built on common heritage as open and innovative business hubs with shared economic interests. We are very pleased to see our ties with this vibrant city continue to strengthen and believe these agreements will help us move towards a new era of collaboration,” said Sheikh Hisham Bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa.

Shenzhen, according to Khalid Al Rumaihi, the Chief Executive of Bahrain EDB, said, is the first city with which Bahrain established a friendship city agreement in China. “We see our partnership with Shenzhen as a model for forging wider and deeper business ties between our two countries.”

Explaining, he pointed out that Bahrain’s location as the Gateway to the Gulf, and given the fact that it is one of the key countries along the new Belt and Road route, will present numerous opportunities for Chinese companies in the region, especially as the GCC markets continue to transform their economies. “Our open and liberal lifestyle, competitive business landscape, and world-class regulation make the Kingdom the ideal location from which Chinese companies can access this $1.5 trillion GCC market,” he stressed.