Opposition negotiator Abdulnabi Salman, from the Democratic Progressive Tribune group, told reporters after the session: “So far so good, and we will continue for the next session, but there is no guarantee that we will continue forever.”

Asked if he thought government negotiators had showed they were serious, Salman said: “Not yet. For me they didn’t show us that … But they showed us that they can listen to us, which is a positive step.”

The main opposition Wefaq movement has commanded nearly half the electorate in past parliamentary votes but the government has refused to budge on opposition demands to give the elected chamber of parliament the power to form cabinets.

Justice Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ali al-Khalifa told journalists that the session had been a positive start and it “confirmed the importance of this dialogue”.

The opposition walked away from reconciliation talks in July 2011, saying they were not carried out fairly.