|
Manama: Bahrain's crown prince has called for development of the political and economic systems to enable them to respond to increased international challenges, saying that ambition and energy were needed to tackle change.
"The system itself needs to be developed to respond to the new international challenges. Also the private sector needs to be more adaptable to the increased competition and globalisation," said Shaikh Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
"Change is a constant, change is here, change is never easy but I think it must be tackled with the right ambition. It must be tackled with the right energy as well to achieve success," the 39-year-old crown prince said in an interview to CNN yesterday.
Shaikh Salman, whose country witnessed a series of street protests in December, said, "Bahrain is and will continue to be the freest and most liberal political environment in the region," adding that in Bahrain's "multicultural, multi-ethnic, and multi denominational society, respect must be extended to all people whether they are Sunnis, Shiites, Christians, Jews or Buddhists.:
However, Shaikh Salman who has been championing an aggressive approach to reform the labour market and improve living conditions, insisted on the significance of productivity in people's lives.
Wealth distribution
"Making sure that poverty or relative poverty, this is a very important term, is addressed here in the kingdom and distribution of wealth is managed in a more actable manner is something that I am very focused on," he said.
"And the only way to really achieve that is to increase productivity and to make people feel a sense of betterment in their lives when they work. And that their children will have more potential and more opportunity than they did," he added.
In comments on relations with neighbouring Iran, Shaikh Salman said that Bahrain called for increased dialogue, understanding and tolerance.
"I hope that cooler heads will prevail and that peace and dialogue are the victors," he said.
|
