[China and Bahrain]
Friendly relations and cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Kingdom of Bahrain continued to develop steadily in 2013.
The two countries maintained high-level exchanges and strengthened political trust. In April, China's Special Envoy to the Middle East Wu Sike visited Bahrain and met with King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, Prime Minister Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa and Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa. In March, King Hamad, Prime Minister Khalifa, Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister Salman and Chairman of Shura Council Ali Bin Saleh Al Saleh sent letters of congratulation respectively to Xi Jinping on his election as the President. Chairman of Shura Council Ali sent a letter of congratulation to Li Keqiang on his election as the Premier. Speaker of the National Assembly and the Council of Representatives Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al Dhahrani and Chairman of Shura Council Ali sent separate letters of congratulation to Zhang Dejiang on his election as the Chairman of the NPC. Foreign Minister Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al Khalif and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ghanim Bin Fadl Al-Buainain sent separate letters of congratulation to Wang Yi on his appointment as the Foreign Minister. In September, King Hamad visited China and attended the opening ceremony of the first China-Arab States Expo in Yinchuan, Ningxia. President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and CPPCC Chairman Yu Zhengsheng met and had talks with King Hamad respectively. In December, a Bahrainian Shura Council delegation visited China.
The two countries further developed their cooperation in economy, trade, education and culture. Projects undertaken by Chinese enterprises in Bahrain progressed smoothly. China Modern Youth Orchestra participated in the performances of "Manama-Capital of Arab Tourism in Bahrain".
Editor:Yaling
