MFA Press Statement: Visit of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Second Minister for Home Affairs Masagos Zulkifli to Bahrain, 20 to 22 April 2015

Photo Credit: MFA

        Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Second Minister for Home Affairs Masagos Zulkifli visited Bahrain from 20 to 22 April 2015.  Minister Masagos met Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa on 21 April.  They reaffirmed the warm ties and close cooperation between Singapore and Bahrain as fellow small states.  Shaikh Khalid noted that Singapore and Bahrain had worked together to promote stronger ties between ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) including the ASEAN-GCC workshop held in Singapore in June 2014 to discuss potential areas of cooperation.  Later that evening, Minister Masagos and Shaikh Khalid officiated at a reception to commemorate the 30^th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.  The text of Minister Masagos’ speech is attached.    

               On 22 April, Minister Masagos called on Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister HRH Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa.  Crown Prince Salman underscored the excellent relations between both countries.  He noted that Bahrain had learnt much from Singapore’s developmental experience including from the advice of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew.  Minister Masagos conveyed Singapore’s appreciation for the attendance of Crown Prince Salman’s son, Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, at the Lying-in-State for the late Mr Lee.  Crown Prince Salman also shared his views on the situation in Yemen which remains a serious concern for the GCC. 

               Minister Masagos also met Minister of Interior HE Lt. Gen. Rashid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa where they had a useful exchange of views on security developments.  They agreed on the need for countries to work together to counter extremist ideology and promote inter-religious harmony.  Minister Masagos welcomed Bahrain’s interest to learn from Singapore’s experience in the area of civil defence and border control.  During his meeting with Minister of Industry and Commerce HE Zayed R. Alzayani, Minister Masagos expressed Singapore’s appreciation of Bahrain’s implementation of the GCC-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (GSFTA).  Minister Alzayani agreed to look into the issue of Singapore’s halal food standards which would facilitate the export of food products into the GCC region.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

23 APRIL 2015

Speech by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs Masagos Zulkifli on the occasion of the 30^th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of Singapore on 21 April 2015 in Manama, Bahrain

Your Excellency Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain

Distinguished Guests,

Fellow Singaporeans,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

               Tonight is a meaningful occasion for me and my colleagues for two reasons.  First, I am delighted to make my introductory visit to Bahrain and experience its rich culture and heritage.  Second, we are gathered here this evening to celebrate a very special milestone – the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Bahrain.   

2             Singapore-Bahrain relations go back a long way and I am proud that our friendship continues to grow stronger with each passing year.  I am sure His Excellency Shaikh Khalid will agree that our countries share many commonalities.  We are small states in our respective regions. We face similar challenges and have to ensure that we remain relevant in an increasingly globalised world.  Our common interests have led to good cooperation and warm ties between us.  This relationship has been nurtured by exchanges of visits at the highest levels, and regular meetings between our officials to share experiences and best practices with each other.  Last June, we were honoured to have His Excellency Shaikh Khalid make a bilateral visit to Singapore and to also jointly officiate the opening of the ASEAN-GCC Workshop with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam.  Minister of State for Defence and National Development Maliki Osman visited Bahrain in December 2014 to attend the Manama Dialogue.  A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish regular Bilateral Consultations between our Foreign Ministries was also signed during Shaikh Khalid’s visit.  The MOU will provide a platform to promote an exchange of views on strategic issues of mutual concern and further strengthen the friendship between our two countries.  

3             The economic ties between Singapore and Bahrain are growing.  Bilateral trade increased by an astounding 325% over the past 10 years to US$455 million in 2014.  There is scope for greater growth, especially after the coming into force of the Free Trade Agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council and Singapore (GSFTA).  The GSFTA provides an excellent springboard for Singapore and Bahrain businesses to increase cooperation and build business connections in our respective regions.  Singapore companies based in Bahrain have benefited from its central location from which they have explored opportunities in the wider Gulf and MENA region.  Similarly, 20 Bahraini companies are registered in Singapore and have benefited from the access to the many opportunities in Asia, particularly the dynamic Southeast Asia region.  Singapore and Bahrain have established ourselves as financial centres in our respective regions.  In recognition of the synergy between our two hubs, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has worked closely with the Central Bank of Bahrain to strengthen our financial linkages.  MAS has actively participated in Bahrain’s premier World Islamic Banking Conference since 2008.

4             Our people-to-people linkages are also growing.  In 2014, we recorded 4,113 tourist arrivals from Bahrain.  This is a modest figure, but I am confident that we will receive more Bahraini tourists to Singapore.  I am equally confident, especially after this visit, that more Singaporeans will want to experience for themselves Bahrain’s culture and attractions.  Cooperation between our officials has also expanded.  To date, more than 233 Bahraini officials have attended courses organised under the Singapore Cooperation Programme in areas such as urban development, information technology and civil aviation.  At the initiative of Shaikh Khalid, Singapore has also conducted six customised protocol training courses for officials from the Bahrain Foreign Ministry and Court of the Crown Prince.  The personal friendships forged in these exchanges have promoted mutual understanding of each other’s experiences and best practices.  

5             At this juncture, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Singaporean community in Bahrain for being excellent “Ambassadors” of Singapore.  You too have played an important role in building mindshare and deepening the people-to-people relations between our two countries.  I thank each of you for your efforts!

6             2015 also marks Singapore’s 50^th year as an independent state.  The year will also be etched into our collective memory with the passing of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, our founding Prime Minister, in March 2015.  Mr Lee devoted his life to build a successful Singapore, and firmly believed that it is important for Singapore, as a small nation, to have friends all over the world in order to succeed.  Even before diplomatic relations were established in 1985, Mr Lee, as then-Prime Minister, visited Bahrain in 1978 to lay the foundation for the friendship between our two countries.  While visiting the west coast of Bahrain on one of these visits with His Royal Highness Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa, Mr Lee suggested that Bahrain build closer links to Saudi Arabia.  Three decades later, as Minister Mentor, Mr Lee made it a point to visit Bahrain again in 2008 to witness first-hand the developments here.  He also pushed for Singapore to strengthen our friendly ties with Bahrain.  On this note, I would like to convey my deep appreciation to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Salman for sending his son, Shaikh Isa, to represent Bahrain at Mr Lee’s Lying-in-State. 

Excellencies,

7             Tonight is a special occasion for Singapore and Bahrain.  I am confident that our relations will continue to grow from strength to strength.   I would like to take this opportunity to thank Shaikh Khalifa and his staff at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain for the gracious hospitality shown to me and my delegation, and for their commitment to working with us to foster stronger relations between our two countries.  

8             It also gives me great pleasure to convey our best wishes to His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, and to express our congratulations for yet another successful Formula 1 hosted by Bahrain.  We wish His Majesty long life, good health, and continued peace and prosperity for the people of Bahrain.  Thank you.

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