Qatar through its vibrant diplomacy has achieved a distinctive place in world nations and has played crucial role in mediating between different warring parties to establish peace in different parts of the world.
Qatar is also strengthening its ties with countries around the region and globe and has multi-dimensional relations with them covering economy, investment, diplomacy, education, etc.
Recently, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani wrapped up a successful tour that included four Asian countries — the Republic of Singapore, Malaysia, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea. Qatar and South Korea have signed an agreement for mutual exemption of entry visa requirements for citizens of the two countries, which is likely to strengthen ties between the two countries. The two nations established diplomatic relations in 1974. Qatar is the largest supplier of LNG to South Korea and South Korea is one of the major trading partners of Qatar. The volume of trade between the two countries stood at $12bn in 2021.
Under the agreement, passport holders of Qatar and South Korea can enter the other country visa-free and stay up to 90 days. The deal will be implemented 30 days after the date of the signing.
Ambassador of South Korea to Qatar, H E Joon-ho Lee, said the deal will increase people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and that as the World Cup 2022 is getting closer a lot of Korean football fans are showing greater interest in Qatar and it will make it more convenient for Korean nationals who want to explore and visit Qatar before and after the World Cup.
South Korea and Qatar are also working closely to diversify cooperation in the areas of smart city, information and communications technology, agriculture, healthcare, education and climate change.
In Malaysia, H M King of Malaysia Al Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al Mustafa Billah Shah received the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
His Majesty also stressed Malaysia’s willingness to cooperate with the State of Qatar in dealing with the post-COVID-19 pandemic through developing vaccines and antiviral drugs and exchanging experiences, research and expertise.
In Singapore, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance welcomed the Qatar Investment Authority’s establishment of its Asian office in Singapore last year. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Senior Minister Coordinating Minister for National Security of Singapore stressed the importance of the Singapore-Qatar High-Level Joint Committee as a platform to enhance bilateral cooperation.
