Culture Minister Shaikha Mai received here today the SwissConsul-General to Bahrain Humbert Buemi. She discussed with him ways of enhancing joint cooperation in the fields of cultureof tourism, marking Manama's celebration of 2014 as the "Year of the Art".Shaikha Mai welcomed the Swiss Consul-General positive initiative aiming tostrengthen Bahraini-Swiss cultural and intellectual relations, highlighting theimportance of cultural exchange in consolidating the values shared by the twocountries and extending bridges of communication between them.The Swiss envoy highlighted the importance of cultural exchange in enhancingrapprochement among countries and peoples.He affirmed his keen desire to cooperate with the Ministry of Culture to hold jointevents on the sidelines of the "Year of Art" programme.