Manama (Bahrain), Oct. 9: The head of the Indian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Maron Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, has been given a warm welcome here by the Bahrain Government.

Bahrain Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid hosted a reception for His Holiness Maron Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II on Friday, and hailed the "deep-rooted friendship between Bahrain and India"

According to the Gulf News, he pledged that Bahrain would uphold the labour, security and safety rights of all communities living in the country.

"The kingdom is keen on the rights of all residents, both citizens and expatriates. Bahrain will do its utmost to ease the living conditions of Indians and all other communities living in the country," the minister said.

He further said that India sets an ideal model of the peaceful coexistence between the different religions, cultures, and ethnicities that made up the Indian society.

The Indian community is the largest in Bahrain and makes up almost half of the 550,000 foreigners living in the country. Most of its members are unskilled labourers, working mainly in the construction sector.

Bahrain, an overwhelmingly Muslim country, also has a small native Christian population. (ANI)