Manama, July 13 (BNA): The Foreign Ministry,in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), launchedBahrain’s Partnership and Contributions Report that aims to promote cohesion,prosperity, and achieving sustainable development goals.

Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa,Political Affairs Undersecretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, affirmedBahrain's keenness under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa AlKhalifa and the follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad AlKhalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to further strengthening itsstrategic partnership with the UN in establishing regional and global peace andsecurity and support the goals of sustainable development in all its economic,social and environmental dimensions. 

He praised the cooperation between theForeign Ministry, UNDP, and the coordination between government entities andthe related UN agencies in drafting the report which shows Bahrain'sachievements in the seventeenth goal of sustainable development concerned withstrengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the internationalpartnership for sustainable development for the years (2015-2022).

This came as an implementation of thestrategic cooperation framework for sustainable development signed with UNagencies, in line with the government's program and the national plan for humanrights and Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.

The Undersecretary expressed pride inBahrain’s successes under the leadership of HM King Hamad and the directives ofHRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister in supporting the sustainabledevelopment goals at the national, regional, and international levels, whichstrengthened the Kingdom's position as a global model in spreading a culture ofpeace and respect for human rights. 

He highlighted the launch of the Kingdom ofBahrain Declaration on religious freedom, the establishment of the King HamadGlobal Center for Peaceful Coexistence, and the adoption of its initiatives forthe International Days of Conscience and Banks and Islamic art, and itscontributions through the Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF) and the BahrainRed Crescent Society (BRCS) in providing development and relief aid, and itssupport for UNESCO's efforts in sponsoring culture and arts and protectingglobal human heritage. 

He noted that Bahrain leading status inrespecting human rights and promoting religious and ethnic tolerance by hostinginternational conferences for dialogue between religions and civilizations, the"Manama Dialogue" summit for regional security, and the launch ofinternational awards for dialogue, peaceful coexistence, empowerment of womenand youth, development of education, digital transformation, and service tohumanity.

He highlighted Bahrain’s exemplaryexperience in overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic by providing sustainable healthand education services of high quality for all, implementing an integrated planfor economic recovery, and other initiatives that have been praised byinternational organizations.

The Undersecretary stressed that Bahrainwill continue its efforts to promote regional and international partnership inachieving the goals of sustainable development by integrating sustainabledevelopment indicators into the government program and promoting internationalpartnerships and contributions through the operationalization of 274memorandums of understanding signed between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,international ministries, and bodies in 2015-2022, its active membership inmany regional and international organizations, and the follow-up of theMohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa Academy for Diplomatic Studies to its programsand activities in the field of training and international diplomaticcommunication.

Firas Gharaibeh, the Acting ResidentRepresentative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Bahrain,expressed his gratitude to Bahrain for its keenness to further develop itspartnerships with the UN and its related bodies.

Gharabieh lauded Bahrain's efforts andinitiatives in establishing security, coexistence, regional and global peace,knowledge transfer, digital transformation, stimulating humanitarian action,empowering women and youth, and supporting sustainable development goals.