HH The Amir and President of China Discuss Promoting Strategic Partnership

His Highness The Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and HE President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping held an official talks session at the Beijing People's Palace on Thursday.

At the outset of the session, HE President Xi Jinping welcomed HH The Amir and the accompanying delegation. He referred to the 2014 visit of HH The Amir to China, and the signing of the joint declaration on establishing the strategic partnership between China and Qatar, recalling the two sides' efforts in establishing those relations, especially in the field of energy.

President Jinping also noted Chinese Cultural Year organized in Qatar and the agreement on exempting citizens of the two countries from visa entry, which had tangible results on the two friendly peoples and the strengthening of relations between the two countries.

His Excellency pointed out that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the new People's Republic of China, a crucial year in which China aspires to further development and advancement, noting the State of Qatar's readiness to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and implement its projects for Qatar National Vision 2030. He also expressed his country's aspiration for more communication and strategic cooperation to achieve the common objectives of the two countries.

He said that HH The Amir's visit to China would yield several results, achieve consensus between the two countries and raise the level of cooperation between them.

The Chinese President also congratulated His Highness on qualifying at the final of the Asian Football Cup.

HH The Amir, for his part, expressed pleasure at visiting Beijing and extended greetings to HE the President and the Chinese people on the new Chinese Year, wishing them further progress and prosperity. HH The Amir also referred to the first meeting between His Highness and His Excellency the President in 2008, expressing his happiness with his personal friendship with HE the President as well as the relations between the two friendly countries.

HH The Amir pointed to his visit to China in 2014 and the signing of the joint declaration on establishing the strategic partnership between the two countries, which good and concrete results have emerged through the past few years. HH The Amir expressed Qatar's readiness to establish a greater partnership with China and open other fields of cooperation between the two countries.

On the Chinese Cultural Year in Qatar, HH The Amir explained that its events have contributed to enhancing cultural exchange between the two countries.

On joint investments and trade, HH The Amir said that they have significantly increased in the past two years, looking forward to increasing them, and expressing confidence in the Chinese economy and HE President Xi Jinping's vision and his plans for the future of China's economy.

His Highness also pointed to the importance of today's talks session, as it seeks to strengthen and attract foreign investment to China, expressing Qatar's willingness to invest more in both infrastructure and areas of interest to both countries.

With regards to energy field, HH The Amir noted that a partnership was recently signed to supply LNG to China for 22 years, stressing that the parties concerned are currently in the process of discussing the signing of other agreements, expressing pleasure at this and voicing Qatar's readiness to supply more LNG to China in the near future.

His Highness said that Qatar, nowadays, is enjoying qualifying to the finals of the Asian Football Cup, expressing pride, readiness and willingness to achieve good results in the World Cup Qatar 2022.

During the session, HH The Amir and HE the Chinese President discussed means of enhancing bilateral relations and strategic partnership to serve the common interests of the two friendly countries and peoples, especially in the fields of military industry, security cooperation, economy, investment and trade through the Silk Road linking China to the region, as well as finance, banking, energy, technology, culture, education, tourism, sports and youth.

The two leaders also discussed the latest developments in the region and the world, especially the Gulf crisis and China's position on the importance of resolving it through diplomatic dialogue, while supporting Qatar's sovereignty.

The session was attended by Their Excellences members of the official delegation accompanying HH The Amir.

On the Chinese side, it was attended by a number of Their Excellences ministers and senior officials.

Upon arrival at the People's Palace, HH The Amir was accorded an official reception ceremony.