China, Qatar to boost cooperation under BRI

World
Europe

Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs of Qatar in Beijing on Wednesday.

Yang, also director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, said Qatar is China's important partner in jointly building the Belt and Road and pursuing mutually beneficial cooperation.

He said China stands ready to work with Qatar to deepen political mutual trust, promote practical cooperation, strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional affairs, enhance anti-terrorism communication, and push forward the strategic partnership to achieve further development.

Mohammed said Qatar attaches importance to its strategic partnership with China and is ready to work with China to enhance cooperation in various fields under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative to achieve common development and prosperity.

China-Qatar visa exemption agreement to take effect later this month

An agreement on mutual exemption of visas between China and Qatar will take effect from December 21, the two countries announced Wednesday.

The announcement came as State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Mohammed co-chaired the first meeting of a China-Qatar inter-governmental strategic dialogue mechanism in Beijing.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs of Qatar, co-chair the first meeting of a China-Qatar inter-governmental strategic dialogue mechanism in Beijing, December 12, 2018. /Photo via Chinese Foreign Ministry

The two sides hope to take this opportunity to bolster cooperation in tourism and expand people-to-people exchanges.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Qatar. Wang said it is of great importance to initiate an inter-governmental strategic dialogue mechanism between the two countries.

"China stands ready to work with Qatar to push bilateral ties towards another 30 years of faster development," said Wang. He proposed the two sides use the opportunity of jointly pursuing the Belt and Road Initiative to synergize their development strategies and carry out win-win cooperation in fields including energy, high and new technology, investment, finance.

Wang also introduced the measures taken and results achieved by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in combating violence, terrorism and extremism.

While calling terrorism a common threat to humanity, Mohammed said Qatar supports the measures taken by China in safeguarding national security and stability, and stands ready to strengthen cooperation in security and anti-terrorism.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency