Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday interacted virtually with members of the Indian diaspora in Bahrain via video conference and welcomed their valuable contributions to strengthening bilateral relations.
Jaishankar is on a two-day visit to Bahrain from November 24 to 25. It is the first leg of his six-day, three-nation tour to Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and the Seychelles, which begins on Tuesday. The visit is considered so important as it comes amid the coronavirus pandemic that has wreaked havoc around the world.
“I am happy to interact virtually with members of the Indian community in Bahrain. Thank them for holding the flag of India high. I appreciate your valuable contribution to strengthening our bilateral relations, ”Jaishankar tweeted shortly after the online interaction.
Earlier in the day, he visited the centuries-old Lord Sri Krishna Temple in Bahrain’s capital Manama. “He started the day with darshan at Manama’s 200-year-old Shreenathji Temple. A testament to our close and proven ties with Bahrain. A testament to our close and time-tested ties with Bahrain, ”Jaishankar tweeted.
Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the $ 4.2 million temple remodel project.
On Tuesday, Jaishankar held talks on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern with his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.
He also conveyed his condolences on behalf of the government and people of India to the leaders of Bahrain on the sad passing of the Prime Minister of Bahrain, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, on November 11. During the meeting, the foreign minister also thanked Bahrain for taking “special care” of the Indian diaspora in the Gulf kingdom during the coronavirus crisis.
The new coronavirus has infected more than 85,800 people and claimed 339 lives in the Gulf nation.
According to the website of the Indian Embassy in Bahrain, the country has around 350,000 Indian citizens, comprising a third of Bahrain’s total population of 1.4 million.
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