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HH Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of Bahrain, is representing HM Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain.
His Highness is the second son of Sheikh Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, a former Emir of Bahrain and His Majesty's uncle. Born Nov 24, 1935, His Highness completed his studies in the United Kingdom. He is married and has two sons and one daughter.
From 1958, His Highness was appointed to several important governmental positions including Acting Secretary of the Government of Bahrain, Minister of Finance, Mayor of Manama (Bahrain's capital) and President of the National Assembly. He has been Prime Minister since 1971.
Starting in 1999, His Highness has visited Thailand eight times both in a private capacity and as an honoured guest of the Thai government. His Highness was awarded the Thai Royal decoration, Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant (Maha Paramaporn Chang Pueak) by HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn on Dec 3, 2003, making him the first Arabian to be so honoured.
His Highness enjoys visiting Thailand, especially Phuket, which he visits almostevery year. In his latest trip from Dec 16, 2005 to Jan 15, 2006, he was granted an audience with His Majesty King Bhumibol.
The Kingdom of Bahrain: Located in the Middle East, once an emirate, now a kingdom, Bahrain is a group of 35 islands in the Persian Gulf, 24 km off the coast of Saudi Arabia and 28 km off the coast of Qatar. The government is a constitutional hereditary monarchy.
The current ruler is HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who succeeded his father in March 1999 as Emir. In Feb 2002, he changed his status from emir to king.
Although the country is the fastest growing economy in the Arab world, it is facing declining oil reserves. The country has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has transformed itself into an international banking centre. Bahrain and Thailand established formal relations on Jan 17, 1977. The two countries have a good relationship.
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