Bahrain, Japan review defence, security policies

Manama, Dec 9 (BNA): Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ambassador Abdullah Abdullatif Abdullah today received a Japanese delegation led by Director General of Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tsukasa Uemura, to hold the second meeting of the comprehensive security dialogue between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Japan. The two sides reviewed the security and defence policies, as well as the priorities of the National Defence Programme of the Kingdom of Bahrain and Japan in the interests of the two countries. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments of common concern, including the fight against terrorism. They dealt with ways of strengthening and developing bilateral relations, especially in economic, trade and cultural fields, stressing benefiting from the opportunities available in both friendly countries. They also held the third meeting of political consultations between the two countries, based on the memorandum of understanding on political consultations, signed in 11 April 2012 during the historic visit of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to Japan. The meeting was attended by a number of officials from Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bahrain Defence Force (BDF), Interior Ministry and Japan's Ambassador to Bahrain.