Bahrain, Japan enhance strategic partnership during HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister’s visit
Tokyo, Sep. 19 (BNA): Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, commended the successful official visit of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to Japan, describing it as a step that enhances longstanding ties and marks the launch of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Majesty Emperor Naruhito, the Emperor of Japan.
Dr. Al Zayani said the meetings held by HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister with HM Emperor Naruhito, His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince of Japan, His Excellency the Prime Minister of Japan, and senior officials, along with the warm reception, reflected the depth of understanding between the two leaderships and their shared commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation and broadening it to wider levels to achieve mutual benefits and support regional and international security, peace and prosperity.
The Foreign Minister highlighted the positive results of the visit, which elevated bilateral relations from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic one, enhancing cooperation and opening new opportunities in political and diplomatic coordination, regional and international affairs, as well as economy, trade, investment, energy, industry, science, technology, digital transformation, space and healthcare. Both countries also aim to expand cooperation to other priority sectors, particularly trade, investment, technology and energy.
He noted that several memoranda of understanding were signed during the visit in areas such as space, patents, human resources, air services and digital transformation, alongside discussions on promising investment opportunities. This builds on the strong economic and trade ties between the two nations spanning more than a century since the Kingdom of Bahrain exported its first oil shipment to Yokohama port in Japan.
Dr. Al Zayani underlined the importance of the visit in demonstrating the durability of bilateral relations, established more than fifty years ago, noting the success of the first strategic dialogue in Tokyo, the seventh round of political consultations in Manama, Japan’s recognition of Bahrain as a key partner in promoting global peace and security, the Kingdom’s election to the UN Security Council for 2026–2027, and Japan’s active role in the Combined Maritime Forces hosted in Bahrain. Both countries emphasise dialogue and diplomacy in resolving conflicts, supporting a ceasefire in Gaza and endorsing the two-state solution as the basis for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
The Foreign Minister also commended the visit of HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister to Bahrain’s pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, where he inaugurated the Bahrain National Day celebration. He said this embodied the longstanding ties, shared cultural and trade links, and common human values of tolerance, peaceful coexistence, understanding and dialogue between religions and cultures, as well as a political and economic partnership built on innovation, sustainability, trust and mutual respect.
He emphasised that Bahrain, under the leadership of HM the King and with the support of HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, is committed to advance its strategic partnership with Japan in political, security, economic, cultural, scientific and technological domains, serving shared interests and aspirations for a more secure, peaceful, prosperous and sustainable future regionally and globally.
