President Asif Ali Zardari met with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Wednesday in Manama, where the two discussed trade, investment and defence cooperation, as well as regional and global issues. The president, accompanied by First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, arrived in the capital on Tuesday on a four-day state visit. A post on the Presidency’s X account said Zardari was accorded a guard of honour upon his arrival at the royal residence, Al-Qudaibiya Palace, where the meeting was held. “Talks covered trade and investment, defence [cooperation], support for the Pakistani community, and regional and global issues,” the post detailed. King Hamad also conferred the Sheikh Isa Award on President Zardari. According to the Foreign Office, President Zardari is also set to hold a meeting with Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who serves as the prime minister as well. “The discussions will focus on bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest,” the FO said. “The visit seeks to reinforce Pakistan’s longstanding cooperation with the brotherly Gulf nation while expanding opportunities for collaboration in trade and economic partnership, defence and security, and people-to-people ties,” it added. State broadcaster PTV News has reported that the president will address a reception held at the headquarters of the Economic Development Board in Manama. After his arrival in the capital on Tuesday, President Zardari met with Bahrain National Guard Commander Sheikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa. Last year in November, Prime Mini­ster Shehbaz Sharif, during a two-day visit to Bahrain, had reiterated Pakis­tan’s commitment to deepening ties with the kingdom. Discussing economic relations, the prime minister had unde­r­lined Pakistan’s desire to expand trade and investment and said bilateral trade was set to grow with the Pak­istan-GCC Free Trade Agree­ment. Bahrain’s interior minister also visited Pakistan in September, with the two countries agreeing to enhance cooperation in the fields of counter-terrorism, anti-narcotics and immigration. More to follow