Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs D.Davaasuren worked in Manama, the capital city of Bahrain on February 5-6. Within the working visit, the First Consultative Meeting between the Foreign Ministries of Mongolia and Bahrain has been held. 

At the meeting co-chaired by D.Davaasuren, State Secretary of the Mongolian Foreign Ministry and Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa, Undersecretary of International Cooperation of the Foreign Ministry of Bahrain, the sides thoroughly exchanged views on current state of bilateral cooperation and further prospects.

The sides discussed matters including carrying out high-level reciprocal visits and regularizing consultative mechanism between the Foreign Ministries and activating cooperation in the fields of tourism, culture and education. The State Secretary affirmed the invitation of visit of the King and Foreign Minister of Bahrain to Mongolia. 

The two sides agreed to cooperate in founding inter-governmental higher commission, mutually exempting diplomatic and official passport holders from visa requirements and establishing cooperation document between the National University of Mongolia and the University of Bahrain respectively.

Furthermore, they talked over cooperation opportunities in banking and finance sector, agreeing to involve Mongolian specialists in short and long-term training in Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance, upskilling them as well as lay foundation for building cooperation between the Bank of Mongolia and the Central Bank of Bahrain.

Views were also exchanged on mutually interested matters on regional and international relations and expanding cooperation within the United Nations and other regional and international organizations.

At the end of the meeting, State Secretary D.Davaasuren and Undersecretary Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa signed minutes of the meeting. 

Within the working visit, State Secretary D.Davaasuren also met with Basim Al-Saei, Member of Executive Committee of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where they emphasized the importance of Government support for increasing opportunity to expand bilateral trade and economic ties, establishing direct cooperation between the Chambers of Commerce and Industry and establish connection between private owned entities.

The State Secretary invited delegation of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry to attend the World Export Development Forum that will be held on August 25-26, 2002 under the auspices of the President of Mongolia.

Mongolia and the Kingdom of Bahrain established diplomatic relations in May, 1998. Bahrain is the country that successfully developed Free Trade Zone and there are 98 institutions out of 382 financial institutes running operation in Bahrain banking sector.