MANAMA: His Majesty King Hamad last night praised Bahrain’s historic ties with the UK and the steady growth of bilateral relations.

He was receiving, in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, Duke of Westminster Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor.

The King and the Duke signed a royal charter for strategic partnership to promote clinical rehabilitation of war veterans and victims of armed conflict.

The Duke, with the support of His Majesty, has set up a non-profit rehabilitation centre in the UK for British and other allied
service personnel.

The charter acknowledging the two-centuries-old alliance  bonding the two nations for the stability of
the GCC and international security.

The charter reaffirmed a mutual commitment to continue strengthening and building the alliance for future generations.

It also aims at sharing expertise, knowledge, technology and intellectual property in
the field of clinical rehabilitation.

The charter also seeks to boost collaborative research for the purpose of developing medical technology in the field of clinical rehabilitation as well as the application of such capabilities to help civilian victims of armed conflict and
severe trauma.

His Majesty expressed hope that the charter would help enhance medical capabilities so as to achieve its humanitarian goals.

The Duke said he had long dreamed of the unprecedented project which, he said, represents the biggest transfer of medical technology to the Middle East.

He reiterated the keenness of the two kingdoms and royal families on turning the scheme into a tangible reality.

Ways to develop bilateral co-operation, mainly in economic, trade and cultural fields, were also reviewed.