Beijing - Information Office - 10 July
HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi hailed the development of Chinese-Arab relations in general and Qatari-Chinese relations in particular.
In a speech at the eighth edition of the Ministerial Meeting of the Arab-China Cooperation Forum, he said that the State of Qatar and the People's Republic of China celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, noting that the two countries have strong and stable relations based on mutual respect. He recalled the visit of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to Beijing in 2014, which contributed to boosting bilateral relations to the level of strategic relations.
HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs addressed Qatar's hosting of the seventh session of the Ministerial Meeting of the Arab-China Cooperation Forum back in 2016, saying it issued recommendations and a common vision reflected by the Doha Declaration and the Executive Program 2016-2018.
He pointed out that the People's Republic of China is one of the main trading partners of the State of Qatar with a trade volume of about $8 billion, as well as importing about 40 percent of its total needs of liquefied natural gas from Qatar, appreciating the contribution of the Chinese side in the infrastructure, energy and petrochemical sectors in Qatar. His Excellency also stressed that the State of Qatar was one of the first countries to support the initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping to build the economic belt of the Silk Road, considering it an initiative that promotes cooperation in trade, investment and infrastructure.
He also said that the Doha Declaration and the Beijing Declaration stressed the importance of safeguarding the sovereignty and stability of states, non-interference in their internal affairs, enshrining the concept of justice and equity and promoting efforts to find political solutions to issues, crises, security and development.
He stressed that Qatar values in particular the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other States and respecting their sovereignty as one of the most important tasks incumbent upon all to envisage a new era of peace and development in the region and in the world. His Excellency added that the State of Qatar always calls for resolving all differences in light of these principles, stressing that dialogue and negotiation must be the basis for resolving differences.
HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs praised the position of the People's Republic of China in support of the Palestinian issue and its honorable attitude towards opposing the transfer of foreign embassies to Al Quds and its support for the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with Al Quds as its capital.
He said that the spread of terrorism and extremism represent a big challenge that requires international cooperation in order to overcome. He highlighted that the State of Qatar has signed agreements with a number of countries to enhance coordination and the exchange of information to confront this threat.