China willing to enhance co-op with Bahrain: official

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-25 09:02

MANAMA -- China is willing to enhance pragmatic cooperation in all fields with Bahrain, said a visiting senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) here Monday.

Liu Yunshan, member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and head of the CPC Central Committee Publicity Department, made the remarks during meetings with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa and Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Sulman Al-Khalifa respectively.

Liu, who leads a CPC delegation, conveyed warm greetings from Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao to the leaders of Bahrain, saying the CPC and the Chinese government attach great importance to the relations with Bahrain.

Since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1989, Liu said, both countries respect each other and have expanded the economic relationship of mutual benefit and enlarged the fields that they can cooperate.

He said China is willing to work with Bahrain to explore new fields of cooperation and enhance bilateral relationship.

Liu expressed appreciation of the neighbor-friendly policy Bahrain adopts and the role it plays in maintaining regional peace and stability.

The king said the Bahraini people are proud of the achievements that the Chinese people has made and the two countries should strengthen cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields and maintain close consultations on international and regional issues.

He reiterated Bahrain's support on issues of Taiwan, Tibet and human rights and expressed appreciation of China's efforts in promoting global and regional peace and stability.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa said Bahrain hopes to strengthen its friendship and cooperation with China and he hopes that more and more Chinese companies can expand business in Bahrain.

Earlier, Liu also held talks with Bahraini Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa.

Bahrain is the second leg of Liu's good-will visits to the Middle East region. He has visited Iran and will visit Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian territories.