Bahraini King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa flies today to Russia to meet his Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The two leaders are set to discuss the latest regional and international developments and discuss ways to reinforce cooperation in various areas, the Bahrain News Agency reported.

It is King Hamad’s fourth visit to Russia.

His first visit in December 2008 was heralded as “a defining moment for bilateral relations”. He subsequently visited Russia in 2014 and his last visit was earlier this year in February.

Diplomatic ties between Manama and Moscow were launched on September 29 1990 when Bahrain and the former Soviet Union established diplomatic relations “on the basis of mutual respect, sovereignty and territorial integrity for both countries and in line with the UN constituent covenant and the international law.”

The Ambassador of the USSR presented his credentials in Manama on in July 1991, and in December 1991 Bahrain recognised the Russian Federation as the successor state of the Soviet Union and the Ambassador of Bahrain presented his credentials in Moscow in February 1992

source : gulfnews