His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa today received at Al-Sakhir Palace British Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt, who is on a visit to the Kingdom to attend the first meeting of the Bahraini-British joint committee. The meeting was attended His Majesty\'s Personal Representative Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa. HM the King commended deep-rooted historic relations which are based on mutual trust, and joint coordination. He affirmed Bahrain\'s keen interest in developing bilateral relations with the UK to further boost joint cooperation in the commercial, economic and investment sectors. He stressed the importance of convening the Bahraini-British joint committee\'s meeting, which was formed following his visit to the UK to activate further joint action and achieve the aspirations of both countries and peoples. He asserted that Bahrain is continuing its reform policy and modernization of different political, economic and social institutions in order to achieve the welfare of Bahrain and its people. HM the King reviewed with the British minister ways of enhancing cooperation in commercial and investment as well as regional and international political developments.