China, Qatar pledge closer ties, deeper collaboration

Premier Li Qiang has called on China and Qatar to strengthen alignment of their development strategies, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and deepen collaboration in traditional energy, new energy, infrastructure, artificial intelligence and finance to pursue win-win outcomes at a higher level.

Li made the remarks on Monday in Beijing while meeting with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who is visiting China from Monday to Tuesday.

Lauding Qatar as China's important strategic partner in the Middle East and the Gulf region, Li said that China stands ready to work with Qatar to further strengthen communication and coordination, firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, and advance bilateral relations to deliver greater benefits to the two peoples.

The premier said China welcomes more Qatari investment and pledged support for more Chinese enterprises to invest in Qatar to enhance the quality and efficiency of two-way investment.

He voiced his hope that Qatar will continue to provide a sound development environment for Chinese enterprises and ensure the safety of Chinese citizens, institutions and projects in Qatar.

The two sides should also boost people-to-people and cultural exchanges covering culture, education, giant panda conservation and research, to bring the peoples of the two countries closer, Li added.

Amid the current international landscape marked by both change and turmoil, China and Qatar should strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation to promote the establishment of a more just and reasonable global governance system, Li stressed.

China supports Qatar in playing a mediating role in the Middle East situation, and is ready to work with Qatar and other countries in the region, as well as the international community, to promote the early restoration of regional peace and stability, he added.

Al Thani said that Qatar values its relations with China, and the two countries have consistently upheld mutual trust and respect, and achieved mutual benefit and win-win results.

Al Thani said that Qatar is willing to work with China to scale up exchanges at all levels and deepen practical cooperation in the economy and trade, high-and-new technologies and advanced manufacturing to jointly embrace the next golden decade of bilateral relations.

Qatar commends and appreciates China's efforts to advance peace and stability in the Middle East, Al Thani said, adding that Qatar is committed to resolving conflicts through dialogue and restoring peace in the region.

Al Thani is scheduled to hold a series of meetings with senior Chinese officials during the twoday visit, according to Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, adviser to the prime minister and spokesman for the Qatari Foreign Ministry.

Sun Degang, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, noted that Al Thani's visit comes as the conflict between the United States and Iran has escalated to a critical stage amid mounting tensions in the Middle East.

Stressing that Qatar — a key stakeholder in regional affairs — recognizes China's positive role in facilitating peace talks, Sun said he views this visit as a sign that the international community welcomes China playing a greater role in international affairs.