The strategic ties between Qatar and China got a further boost with Qatar’s participation in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. A Qatari delegation consisting of Minister of Transport and Communications H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti and Minister of Commerce and Industry H E Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, participated in the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, on Friday that was inaugurated by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
A number of leaders and representatives from 37 counties attended the Forum. The event also attracted around 5,000 participants from more than 150 countries and 80 international organizations, covering regions from five continents and multiple players such as governments, civil societies, business communities and academia.
Qatar is among the first countries that supported initiative of the Belt and Road project that aims for wider links between Asia, Africa and Europe. As Qatar looks the Belt and Road Initiative from a strategic standpoint to link it with its infrastructures such as ports and airports, it has signed several agreements and MoUs that support the initiative.
This will have positive impacts on Qatar’s economy and supports its plan to becoming a key strategic and economic hub in the region and the world,” according to H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti. The Silk Road, which helps reduce time and cost for transporting goods, will contribute to creating new industrial cities and communities in a way that supports growth and common benefits for countries on its path,” said Al Kuwari.
Qatar with its advanced world-class infrastructure in seaports, air transport and airports and logistic projects will make it one of the major hubs and enhance its economic relations with several countries beyond the region.
The Chinese President noted the success of the initiative in expanding the global economy, providing new platforms, improving governance and providing opportunities for people to prosper. The Chinese and Arab sides are natural partners in the construction of the Belt and Road where the two sides have signed the executive declaration of the Arab-Chinese partnership in the construction of the project.
Qatar is one of the first countries to support and express its willingness to take part in its implementations is closely involved in the interconnection of facilities with China. Qatar Airways operates 49 direct flights a week to seven Chinese cities and two direct sea routes were also opened between Hamad Port and the ports of Shanghai and Guangzhou in China for the transport of goods and consumables. There are about 200 Chinese companies in Qatar, mostly of them engaged in the engineering, contracting, IT, trade and services sectors, some of which have participated in vital projects of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the 2022 World Cup.
China is Qatar’s third largest trading partner and second largest source of imports and the volume of trade between the two countries has grown by 30 percent in 2018 reaching about $14.5bn.
