Doha /information office / 11 April  2017 / The visit of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the Republic of South Africa is of great importance and is closely followed by the international political, economic and social circles, said HE Qatar's Ambassador to South Africa Abdullah Hussein Al Jaber.

      In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), His Excellency said that the reason why the visit of HH the Emir to South Africa is important and followed by various international circles at all levels is due to the status and excellent reputation that Qatar has gained internationally over the past years as one of the most prominent regional countries in the political, economic fields, and as an active country that contributes to settle many disputes and issues between countries both in its region and outside it through peaceful and diplomatic means.

Apart from the distinguished political relations between the two countries, they have shared visions in resolving issues and disputes through political and direct negotiations between the two parties or parties to the conflict, especially in their respective regions, and have contributed and continue to contribute to resolving these issues, said HE the Ambassador.

He pointed out that the two countries have excellent economic relations, characterized by cooperation in many economic fields and investment in the opportunities available between the two sides, adding that cooperation between the two countries goes beyond this to include education, health, security, sports and food fields as well as the financial and banking sectors.

  HE Al Jaber stressed that communication and consultation between the two countries has been continuing since the return of South Africa to the international community after the collapse of the abhorrent apartheid regime in 1994 and since the assumption of the presidency by South African activist and president Nelson Mandela, who returned his country to the international community. The friendly relations between the two sides were built on the basis of mutual respect, trust and common interests, His Excellency stressed.

Concluding his statement to QNA, HE Qatar's Ambassador to South Africa reaffirmed that Qatar has always sought along with South Africa and other countries to bring about a change that breaks the barriers and obstacles that divide the peoples, and to work for a world system that is based on mutual respect, tolerance, peace, justice and acceptance of the other.