President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, who is on an official visit to Manama, his first bilateral visit abroad since taking over the Presidency of the EU Council, referred on Sunday to the great importance that the Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council attaches to relations between the EU and the Gulf countries, as well as to bilateral relations between Cyprus and Bahrain.
According to a Presidency press release, in a meeting with the King of Bahrain at the Royal Palace in Manama, and speaking during the expanded talks between the delegations of the two countries, the President of the Republic said that his visit is both symbolic and substantial, ‘a clear reflection of our shared determination to further strengthen the Cyprus-Bahrain relationship at all levels – political, strategic, and economic.’
He also expressed his satisfaction for the fact that the bilateral cooperation has steadily expanded during recent years and now spans key areas, including defence and security, trade and investment, culture, higher education, youth, maritime affairs, and tourism.
He also expressed his satisfaction that this visit takes place during the first month of Cyprus’s presidency of the Council of the European Union and it is also his first bilateral visit in this capacity, ‘a clear indication of the value we attach to our partnership with Bahrain’.
He added that the timing of the visit is also significant because Bahrain presides over the GCC Council, offering important opportunities for closer cooperation, closer coordination at both regional and international level.
‘During our tete-a-tete meeting, we confirmed the depth, potential, and future orientation of our relationship, and I look forward to building on this discussion during this enlarged meeting. I am very confident that today’s discussion will further deepen our strategic partnership, translate our shared vision into tangible outcomes, and strengthen our cooperation, always for the benefit of our peoples and our respective regions,’ concluded President Christodoulides.
For his part, King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa of Bahrain, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the years 2026-2027, welcomed President Christodoulides and, after referring to the long-standing and excellent relations between the two countries, said, among other things, that ‘these close ties are founded on mutual understanding and respect, shared values, and constructive cooperation.’
‘We commend the progress achieved across various fields, which has brought benefit and prosperity to our two friendly countries and peoples. We look forward to Your Excellency’s visit marking the inauguration of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus and the convening of the Business Forum between the chambers of commerce, as well as the announcement of nine agreements and memoranda of understanding in the fields of education, culture, tourism, and information technology,’ he added.
The King of Bahrain also reaffirmed his country’s commitment to further developing constructive relations with Cyprus, and to opening broader horizons for bilateral cooperation in the economic, commercial, developmental, and social fields, while enhancing the role of the private sector in investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship and increasing the volume of trade.
He also congratulated President Christodoulides on the assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union during its current term. ‘We look forward to fruitful cooperation between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council, and to further developing our strategic partnership, particularly toward the conclusion of a free trade agreement that serves our shared interests’, he stressed.
‘As we commend the progress and developmental advancement witnessed by the Republic of Cyprus, we also value its pivotal role in Europe and the Mediterranean, as well as its principled support for just Arab issues, foremost among them the Palestinian cause, and its efforts to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of the Gaza Strip’, he further noted.
Finally, the King of Bahrain pointed out that President Christodoulides’ visit lays the foundation for further cooperation between the two countries for the benefit of their peoples.
Subsequently, an agreement was signed on the mutual recognition of higher education qualifications, as well as memoranda of understanding in the fields of military cooperation, diplomacy (Diplomatic Academies), education in search and rescue, culture, antiquities and handicrafts, as well as cooperation in the field of Tourism, while an agreement on cooperation between CCCI and the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce was also signed.
The King of Bahrain then hosted an official luncheon in honour of the President of the Republic, the press release concludes.