Doha - information office - November 26
HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Turkey Salem bin Mubarak Al Shafi said that Qatari-Turkish relations are distinct, stressing that this relationship is governed by a moral reference and has gone through many challenges before reaching the stage of strategic relations and comprehensive partnership.
In his statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), HE Ambassador Al Shafi said what strengthened the status of that relationship was the great convergence at the level of leaders and the people, the common denominators between the two countries, the unlimited solidarity in times of crises, the converging and harmonious political visions in many files and issues, as well as the sincere and continuous efforts made by the two sides to preserve this distinguished level of relations.
The official visit of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the Republic of Turkey on Thursday to chair the sixth meeting of the Qatar-Turkey Supreme Strategic Committee with HE Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in addition to the meetings, talks and agreements that will result from it, will add great momentum to the bilateral relations and lead to exploring new horizons, as it will contribute to strengthening and developing existing cooperation mechanisms, HE Qatar's Ambassador stressed.
In December 2014, HH the Amir and HE President of the Turkish Republic, signed an agreement to establish a (Supreme Strategic Committee) between the two countries. Under this agreement, a large number of ministries, governmental and private institutions in the two countries, in addition to the concerned sectors, have engaged in talks to prepare for bilateral agreements, memoranda of understanding and cooperation protocols. The Higher Strategic Committee has also acted as an important mechanism to strengthen bilateral relations in all fields, Ambassador Al Shafi added.
These meetings resulted in opening new horizons of cooperation between the two countries and also contributed to enhancing trade exchange and cooperation at the economic, financial, commercial, educational, agricultural, technological and defense levels. In addition to the beneficial measures that accompanied all this for the citizens of the two countries, such as easing restrictions on investments, preventing double taxation and joint exemption from travel visas between the State of Qatar and the Turkish Republic for holders of regular passports from citizens of the two countries.
This visit gives the Supreme Strategic Committee's meetings a regular and permanent character. It will also contribute to strengthening the bonds of strategic partnership and exceptional relations between the two countries, HE Qatar's Ambassador to Turley noted.
On the importance and implications of the timing of this visit, HE Ambassador Salem bin Mubarak Al Shafi said that this visit comes at a time when the world is suffering from severe polarization and challenges, in addition to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and the negative effects that this has left. HE stressed that this visit reflects the stability and firmness of the two brotherly countries' relationship, in a turbulent world in which alliances and lineups change all the time.
He said that this visit will witness the signing of several agreements in several areas, noting the volume of trade exchange between the two countries, which exceeded $ 2 billions for 2019.
Turkish companies have won huge contracts to implement infrastructure projects devoted to preparations of the State of Qatar to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022, as well as various Turkish and Qatari active investments in the sectors of real estate, contracting, tourism, manufacturing and media, in addition to projects financed by joint capital between the two sides," HE added.
On the effect of this visit on the existing cooperation between the two countries in different areas, HE the States Ambassador to Ankara indicated that this visit and the meetings and agreements that will result from it will have a great impact on consolidating and stabilizing the gains that have been achieved, codifying and organizing the various aspects of cooperation, developing legal and implementation frameworks for it, finding other prospects for cooperation and providing more beneficial measures.
It will also be an opportunity to exchange views and points of view on many regional and international issued, he added. HE wished more prosperity and development for these relations for the good and the benefit of all, and in a manner that guarantees the continuation of the distinction and development of these relations, HE said.