HM King receives Duke of Westminster

Manama, Aug.18 (BNA): His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa today received at Sakhir Palace, in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, The Most Noble Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, Duke of Westminster. The Duke of Westminster is currently on visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain to sign the royal charter for strategic partnership towards promoting clinical rehabilitation capabilities for war veterans and victims of armed conflict. The Duke has established a non-profitable rehabilitation center with the generous support of HM the King, in the United Kingdom, for British service personnel and the UK allies. HM the King welcomed the Duke of Westminster and valued his visit to the Kingdom to sign the humanitarian Royal Charter, hailing the close, historic and distinguished relations linking the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Kingdom, and their progress in various fields for the sake of common interests. They reviewed ways of developing cooperation between the two countries, mainly in the economic, trade and cultural fields. HM the King and the Duke of Westminster then signed the royal charter for a strategic partnership to promote the development of clinical rehabilitation capabilities to serve the veterans and victims of armed conflict. The charter acknowledges the two-century old alliance bonding Bahrain and the UK for the stability of the Gulf and international security. The Royal Charter reaffirms their commitment to continue strengthening and building this alliance for future generations. The Royal Charter aims at sharing know-how, knowledge, technology and intellectual property in the field of clinical rehabilitation. It provides co-ordination of collaborative research to ensure continuous innovative development of cutting edge medical technology in the field of clinical rehabilitation as well as the application of clinical rehabilitation capabilities to help civilian victims of armed conflicts, and other forms of severe trauma. HM the King expressed the hope the charter would contribute to enhancing medical capabilities and provide the necessary health and therapeutic care to achieve the noble humanitarian goals in the charter. He hailed Bahrain's firm and steadily-growing relations and multi-faceted cooperation with the UK for the interest of the two friendly countries. The Duke of Westminster thanked HM the King for the gracious welcome, expressing his delight at visiting Bahrain, which he described as a wonderful country. He said that he had long dreamed of the unprecedented project which, he said, represents the biggest transfer of medical technology to the Middle East. He expressed his confidence that the project would come to fruition, reiterating the keenness of the two Kingdoms and royal families on turning the scheme into tangible reality. He commended the facilities provided by Bahrain to further the project, reiterating deep thanks to HM the King for the royal keenness on the initiative.