Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani reached Germany yesterday on the third leg of a vibrant European tour. In Berlin, H H the Amir held discussions with President of the Federal Republic of Germany Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Presidential Palace of Bellevue and German Chancellor H E Olaf Scholz at the Chancellory during which the leaders had wide-ranging discussions on bilateral relations and several international issues of common concern.
During the visit, Qatar and Germany signed several agreements, most important of which is a Joint Declaration of intent to promote the cooperation between the two countries in the field of energy. The agreement, signed by Minister of State for Energy Affairs H E Saad Sherida Al Kaabi and German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Dr. Rovbert Habeck, is expected to strengthen Germany’s energy supply diversification through LNG imports from Qatar and facilitating bilateral cooperation in hydrogen and renewable sources. Both countries will also benefit from knowledge exchange on energy transition, expansion of renewable energies, its regulation and system integration, energy efficiency and demand-side management.
The agreement will go a long way in boosting the already strong and strategic partnership between Qatar and Germany, which is one of the most prominent European countries sharing borders with nine European Union members.
During a joint press conference with the German Chancellor, H H the Amir stressed on the importance of bilateral relations in the fields of politics, economy and investments. His Highness said that Qatar is one of the largest investors in Germany adding that Qatar will work on increasing investment in Germany in the immediate future. H H the Amir also noted the increase in bilateral trade saying the trade exchange increased by 80 percent in 2021 to reach more than $3bn.
The fact that prominent world leaders are waiting for a high-level visit from Qatar proves yet again the significance of Qatar’s relentless efforts in finding solutions to the myriad problems that the world has been facing recently. Time and again, world leaders have appreciated the outsized role Qatar has been playing whether it is with regard to resolving the Afghan issue and evacuation of thousands of people, great strides in alleviating hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic or the mediation efforts in solving regional and international conflicts.
Now the world is presented with yet another conundrum in the form of Russia-Ukraine conflict which has brought in new kind of complex problems such disrupted energy supplies, food and other essential commodity shortage and above all the changing geopolitical balance. Even though a small country in size, ambitious and powerful diplomacy, coupled with its valuable natural resources, Qatar always provide a ray of hope to the world.
