Rousing welcome for King Salman

Qatar accorded a grand welcome to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia who arrived here yesterday on a two-day visit.

Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani led well-wishers to receive King Salman on his arrival at Hamad International Airport yesterday afternoon.
H H Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Personal Representative of the Emir; Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani along with sons of the Father Emir and ministers were also present to welcome the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.
“I would like to extend on behalf of the people of the State of Qatar and on my own behalf our sincere welcome and express our great pleasure over the visit of my brother the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, for whom we have deep affection, dearness and all the appreciation; and we share with his kind people the most deeply-rooted, strongest and well established fraternal ties. Welcome to him in his second country Qatar among his family and relatives,” the Emir said in a statement issued on the occasion.
“I may not need to stress in this context our intense pride over the strong friendly and historic relations between Qatar and the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia laid by parents and grandparents, which are very keen to continue boosting, enhancing and developing them for the benefit of our two peoples,” added the Emir.
During the visit King Salman is accompanied by his Adviser Prince Abdulilah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prince Khalid bin Fahd bin Khalid bin Muhammad Al Saud, Prince Mansour bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prince Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prince Saud bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud along with a number of princes and ministers, and other officials.
The Emir later received King Salman at the Emiri Diwan where an official welcoming ceremony was held along with a popular celebration. The official ceremony started with the arrival of King Salman’s motorcade, followed by playing of the Saudi and Qatari national anthems and a formal handshaking ceremony.
The Emir then handed over to King Salman the Sword of the Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani, the highest national decoration, which is carried by the Emir of the State and to be presented to Kings, Presidents and Princes.
The welcome ceremony was attended by H E Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani, H H Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Personal Representative of the Emir; Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, H E Sheikh Jassim bin Khalifa Al Thani, H E Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khulaifi, Speaker of the Advisory Council, and his Deputy along with sons of the Father Emir, other members of the royal family, ministers and dignitaries.
On the Saudi side, Prince Abdulilah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Prince Khalid bin Fahd bin Khalid bin Muhammad Al Saud, Prince Mansour bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prince Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prince Saud bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud along with a number of princes and ministers and members of the accompanying delegation were present.
The Emir later hosted a luncheon banquet at the Emiri Diwan in honour of King Salman and the accompanying delegation. King Salman's historic visit comes as part of Qatar's efforts under the leadership of the Emir to promote the excellent relations between the two countries and take them to greater heights.