Emir’s visit strengthens Qatar-Russia ties

Doha: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and President of the friendly Russian Federation Vladimir Putin witnessed yesterday the signing of cooperation agreement in the field of science and education between Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) and Rosneft, which aims to open a research centre for Rosneft at the Qatar Science and Technology Park.

H H the Emir and Russian President discussed ways to strengthen the bilateral cooperation in several fields, including defence, energy, economy, investment, trade exchange and scientific research.

Both leaders also discussed means to boost cooperation in the organization of the World Cup and the exchange of expertize, especially as Russia will host it in 2018 and Qatar in 2022. HH the Emir and the Russian President discussed various regional and international issues of common interest.

This came during the meeting between H H the Emir and the Russian President, yesterday at the Palace of the Kremlin. At the beginning of the meeting, the Russian President welcomed H H the Emir, noting the development of relations between the two countries since last visit of H H the Emir to Moscow in 2016.

Stressing that communication between the two countries is continuing permanently, President Putin said, “Relations between Qatar and Russia have completed their 30th year by 2018. The volume of trade and investment exchange is increasing, especially last year, but it remains without the aspiration of the two countries, which look forward to its development.”

H H the Emir affirmed that the bilateral relations have developed significantly over the past two years since the last meeting of the Russian President, adding that the two countries’ ambitions for cooperation are greater than they are now, despite the strong relations and mutual trust between the two sides. H H the Emir stressed the need to develop these relations in other areas, especially in the volume of trade exchange.

H H the Emir pointed out the importance of 2018 for Qatar and Russia as their common cultural year, praising the great cooperation between the two countries in the field of culture.

H H the Emir said that Qatar is counting on friends in Russia in cooperation with them for the importance of Russia, its historical relations with the Arab world and its role in resolving some issues in the Arab world.

H H the Emir also expressed condolences to the President and the Russian people on the victims of the shopping Mall fire in Kemerovo city, wishing the wounded a speedy recovery.

The meeting was attended by a number of Their Excellencies members of the official delegation accompanying H H the Emir. H H Emir attended a dinner banquet hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin in honour of His Highness and the accompanying delegation, at the Kremlin Palace in Moscow.

During the banquet, H H the Emir and the Russian President discussed the results of the work of the Qatari-Russian joint committee for trade, economic and technical cooperation and the prospects of enhancing them, as well as ways to develop military cooperation between the two countries.

They also exchanged talks about the activities of the Cultural Year Qatar and Russia 2018.

H H the Emir also visited yesterday the Russian national museum for fine art (Tretyakov Gallery). During the visit, H H the Emir was briefed on a number of historic and contemporary works as well as paintings by Russian artists. H H the Emir was also briefed on the museum’s historic collections, art works and the ancient icons of Russia which extends from the Middle Ages to the modern era. After the visit H H the Emir posted on his Instagram account, “It was an enjoyable visit to the Tretyakov Gallery at the Russian National Museum in Moscow, where I learned about the extended history of Russian arts.

The Qatar-Russia Culture Year 2018, will witnesses building new bridges of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, and we look forward to hosting Qatar-Russia Exhibition 2018, in Doha.”

H H the Emir yesterday met Arkady Dvorkovich, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and head of the organising committee of the 2018 World Cup along with his accompanying delegation at H H the Emir’s residence in the Russian capital of Moscow.

The meeting reviewed friendship and mutual cooperation ties, and means of enhancing them, particularly in the fields of economy and investment. It also discussed Russia’s latest preparations for the 2018 World Cup and prospects of cooperation and exchange of expertise in this regard.

Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani also met yesterday with Igor Sechin, chief executive officer of Russian oil firm Rosneft, at H H the Emir’s residence in the Russian capital of Moscow. The meeting reviewed cooperation ties and means of boosting them.

H H the Emir left Moscow yesterday after a two-day working visit to the Russian Federation.

H H the Emir and the accompanying delegation were seen off upon departure at Vnukovo International Airport by Russian Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East, a number of Senior Russian officials, Qatar’s Ambassador to Russia, H E Fahad bin Mohammed Al Attiyah and members of the Qatari Embassy in Moscow.

H H the Emir sent cables to the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, expressing thanks and appreciation for the warm welcome accorded to him and the accompanying delegation during the visit. H H the Emir also expressed pleasure at meeting with the Russian President and the talks held, which enabled the two sides to exchange views on various regional and international issues, to strengthen the strategic partnership relations between the two countries and the two friendly peoples.

H H the Emir also expressed appreciation to the Russian President, wishing him good health and happiness and the friendly people of Russia further progress and prosperity.

أشاد حضرة صاحب السمو الشيخ تميم بن حمد آل ثاني أمير البلاد المفدى بزيارة روسيا والمحادثات مع فخامة الرئيس الروسي فلاديمير بوتين.

وقال صاحب السمو إن الزيارة ستمنح علاقات البلدين دفعة جديدة، ووصف سموه المحادثات بالناجحة والمعمقة وأنها تناولت العلاقات الثنائية والتحديات الإقليمية والدولية.

جاء ذلك بالحساب الرسمي لحضرة صاحب السمو بموقع التواصل الاجتماعي “تويتر” حيث قال سموه: “سعدت بزيارتي إلى موسكو اليوم وبمحادثاتي مع فخامة الرئيس بوتين، التي ستمنح علاقات بلدينا دفعة جديدة. كانت محادثات ناجحة ومعمقة تناولت العلاقات الثنائية وتحديات إقليمية ودولية”.

وبحث حضرة صاحب السمو الشيخ تميم بن حمد آل ثاني أمير البلاد المفدى، وفخامة الرئيس فلاديمير بوتين رئيس روسيا الاتحادية الصديقة، سبل توطيد علاقات التعاون الثنائي بين البلدين في عدة مجالات، من بينها الدفاع والطاقة والاقتصاد والاستثمار والتبادل التجاري والبحث العلمي، بالإضافة إلى سبل تعزيز التعاون في مجال تنظيم بطولة كأس العالم وتبادل الخبرات لاسيما التي ستستضيفها روسيا 2018 وقطر 2022.

كما بحث سمو الأمير وفخامة الرئيس الروسي مختلف القضايا الإقليمية والدولية التي تهم البلدين.

جاء ذلك خلال الاجتماع الذي عقده سمو الأمير وفخامة الرئيس الروسي، مساء اليوم، بقصر الكرملين، وكان فخامة الرئيس في بداية الاجتماع رحب بسمو الأمير.. مشيرا فخامته إلى تطور العلاقات بين البلدين منذ زيارة سموه الأخيرة لموسكو في العام 2016.. مؤكدا أن التواصل بين البلدين مستمر بشكل دائم.

وقال فخامة الرئيس “إن العلاقات بين قطر وروسيا أكملت عامها الثلاثين مع حلول العام 2018، موضحا أن حجم التبادل التجاري والاستثماري في ازدياد، خاصة في السنة الماضية، لكنها لا تزال دون طموح البلدين متطلعا فخامته إلى تطورها وتنميتها”.

من جانبه أكد سمو الأمير، أن العلاقات الثنائية تطورت بشكل كبير خلال السنتين الماضيتين منذ آخر لقاء له بفخامة الرئيس الروسي، مضيفا سموه أن طموح البلدين في التعاون أكبر مما هو عليه الآن، رغم قوة العلاقات والثقة المتبادلة بين الطرفين، مؤكدا على ضرورة تطويرها في المجالات الأخرى لاسيما في حجم التبادل التجاري.

وأشار سمو الأمير إلى أهمية العام 2018 بالنسبة لقطر وروسيا باعتباره العام الثقافي المشترك بينهما، منوها سموه بالتعاون الكبير بين البلدين في مجال الثقافة.

وأوضح سمو الأمير أن قطر تعول على الأصدقاء في روسيا بالتعاون معهم لأهمية روسيا، ولعلاقاتها التاريخية مع العالم العربي، ولدورها أيضا في حل بعض القضايا في العالم العربي.

كما أعرب سموه عن تعازيه لفخامة الرئيس والشعب الروسي في ضحايا حريق المركز التجاري بمدينة كيميروفو الروسية، متمنيا الشفاء العاجل للمصابين.

حضر الاجتماع عدد من أصحاب السعادة أعضاء الوفد الرسمي المرافق لسمو الأمير.

ومن الجانب الروسي حضره عدد من أصحاب السعادة الوزراء.