HH The Amir Attends Dinner Banquet Hosted by French President
His Highness The Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attended a dinner banquet hosted by French President Francois Hollande in his honour and that of his accompanying delegation.
In a welcoming speech during the banquet, HH The Amir expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the French President for the hospitality accorded to him and the accompanying delegation, voicing his satisfaction at the friendship between both countries.
His Highness stressed the strong ties between the two countries on the economic and trade fronts as well as in the cultural and educational spheres. The Amir expressed his belief that the existing cooperation between the two countries should focus more on current and future civilisational issues, noting that culture and education are keys to the future of Qatar. "This is why", His Highness said, "Qatar chose to depend on youth".
HH The Amir said that the world is living through repercussions resulting from crises and contradictions, which applies to our region in particular. "However", HH The Amir added, "Qatar has continuously defended the values of justice, fraternity, equality and wisdom, and maintained its neutral stance toward crises in the region despite the resulting political tensions."
In this regard, HH The Amir added that Qatar has always been a mediator between countries where possible, noting that Doha works to provide a common ground that allows opposing sides to come together and find a peaceful resolution to conflicts. His Highness said that Qatar communicates with all countries, and at the same time respects the key political and intellectual currents in the region and all over the world, whilst defending freedom of expression and objecting to anything that leads to intolerance. The Amir stressed that this is the choice Qatar adopts, even if it irritates some sides.
The banquet was attended by Heads of Diplomatic Missions accredited to France as well as senior officials and a number of media and cultural dignitaries.