Manama, 30 September / BNA / His Excellency Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, praised the fruitful results and prominent achievements of the official visit of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may God protect him, to the Vatican City State and the Italian Republic. He emphasized its importance in consolidating historical cooperation relations and enhancing diplomatic and humanitarian partnership with the two friendly countries, serving development, peace, and dialogue of civilizations, reflecting the wise diplomatic approach of the Kingdom of Bahrain under the high patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of the Kingdom, may God protect and preserve him.

He highlighted the importance of the high-level official meetings held by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may God protect him, with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, Pope of the Vatican, His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican City, and Her Excellency Mrs. Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of the Italian Republic, alongside senior officials and political, economic, and religious figures. These meetings represented a prominent milestone in the path of Bahrain’s persistent diplomatic efforts to build bridges of cooperation and international openness, and to consolidate strategic partnership serving common interests and enhancing security, peace, coexistence, and sustainable development at various national, regional, and international levels.

The Foreign Minister pointed out that the visit culminated in signing a cooperation and strategic investment partnership with the Italian Republic, opening broader horizons for developing economic relations and increasing trade exchange and investments. He expressed pride in Italy’s appreciation of Bahrain’s role in hosting the Italian naval force within the joint naval forces, its position as a pivotal commercial and investment hub, and an active partner in promoting international peace and security.

He added that the official visit reflected a shared diplomatic vision between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Italy in commitment to achieving regional and international security, stability, and peace, through their call to stop the war in the Gaza Strip, ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid, support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the two-state solution, and their keenness to resolve regional and international conflicts peacefully and enhance multilateral cooperation based on the United Nations Charter. Furthermore, it deepened the Gulf-European strategic partnership, especially under Bahrain’s presidency of the upcoming Gulf Summit and its non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council for the period 2026-2027.

The official visit also highlighted the humanitarian, civilizational, and cultural dimensions by affirming the deep close ties with Italy and the Vatican, and their shared rich historical heritage and common human values, within the context of the prominent international appreciation of Bahrain’s pioneering initiatives and its status as a beacon of religious freedoms and dialogue among cultures and civilizations.

These include the royal call to hold an international conference for peace and coexistence, the proposal of an international convention to combat hate speech, the UN’s adoption of the International Day of Peaceful Coexistence, in addition to the contributions of the King Hamad Global Center for Coexistence and Tolerance, which provides educational and training programs to spread the culture of peace and human brotherhood, the establishment of the King Hamad Chair for Interfaith Dialogue and Coexistence at Sapienza University in Italy, the launch of the King Hamad Award for Coexistence and Tolerance, and hosting international conferences for religious and civilizational dialogue, consistent with the principles of the “Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration” on freedom of religion and belief.

In conclusion, His Excellency Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, affirmed that the historic official visit to Italy and the Vatican represented a true embodiment of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s keenness, led by His Majesty the King, may God protect and preserve him, and the directives of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may God protect him, to strengthen cultural and civilizational rapprochement and enhance strategic cooperation with the two friendly countries, achieving common interests and contributing to building a world characterized by peace, tolerance, coexistence, and human fraternity.