External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is on a two-day to Bahrain, called on Bahrain’s Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa on Sunday and co-chaired the second joint commission meeting with her counterpart to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral ties.

She began her engagements in Manama on Sunday by meeting her counterpart and a close friend of India Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. The two leaders co-chaired 2nd India-Bahrain High Joint Commission. The first meeting of the High Joint Commission (HJC) was held in New Delhi in February 2015.

Swaraj later called on Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman and held discussions on consolidating the “valuable” bilateral relationship.

Relationship going back to Dilmun and Indus Valley civilization! EAM @SushmaSwaraj calls on HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, Prime Minister of Bahrain. Good discussion on consolidating our valuable relationship. pic.twitter.com/Cmtpirt0sA

— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) July 15, 2018

During the visit, she also gifted a box of books called ‘Bharat ek Priychay’ to the National Library in Manama.

“The symbolic box, with books on many aspects of India, will serve as a reference point for local people keen to know more about India,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Bahrain Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa on Sunday lauded the role of the Indian expatriate community’s role in his country’s development.

“FM Shaikh Khalifa praised the contribution of Indian community settled in Bahrain towards the economic development of Bahrain,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Relationship without complexities! 2nd India-Bahrain High Joint Commission led by EAM @SushmaSwaraj and Bahrain Foreign Minister begins in Manama. FM Shaikh Khalifa praised the contribution of Indian community settled in Bahrain towards the economic development of Bahrain. pic.twitter.com/WF5SqtGYUa

— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) July 15, 2018

Bahrain is home to around 350,000 Indian nationals, the largest expatriate community in the Gulf Kingdom, and more than 3,000 Indian-owned or joint venture companies.

Bilateral trade between India and Bahrain stood at over $875 million as of February this year, according to figures provided by the External Affairs Ministry.

India’s total capital investment into Bahrain between January 2003 and March 2018 has been estimated at $1.69 billion.

On Saturday, the first day of her two-day visit to Bahrain, Sushma Swaraj, along with Shaikh Khalifa, had inaugurated the new Indian Embassy complex in Manama.

(With inputs from agencies)