Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and President of the friendly Russian Federation Vladimir Putin witnessed yesterday the signing of cooperation agreement in the field of science and education between Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) and Rosneft, which aims to open a research centre for Rosneft at the Qatar Science and Technology Park. The Peninsula reports on details of the visit in its article Emir’s visit strengthens Qatar-Russia ties.
H H the Emir and Russian President discussed ways to strengthen the bilateral cooperation in several fields, including defence, energy, economy, investment, trade exchange and scientific research.
Both leaders also discussed means to boost cooperation in the organization of the World Cup and the exchange of expertize, especially as Russia will host it in 2018 and Qatar in 2022. HH the Emir and the Russian President discussed various regional and international issues of common interest.
Stressing that communication between the two countries is continuing permanently, President Putin said, “Relations between Qatar and Russia have completed their 30th year by 2018. The volume of trade and investment exchange is increasing, especially last year, but it remains without the aspiration of the two countries, which look forward to its development.”
H H the Emir affirmed that the bilateral relations have developed significantly over the past two years since the last meeting of the Russian President, adding that the two countries’ ambitions for cooperation are greater than they are now, despite the strong relations and mutual trust between the two sides. H H the Emir stressed the need to develop these relations in other areas, especially in the volume of trade exchange.
H H the Emir pointed out the importance of 2018 for Qatar and Russia as their common cultural year, praising the great cooperation between the two countries in the field of culture.
H H the Emir said that Qatar is counting on friends in Russia in cooperation with them for the importance of Russia, its historical relations with the Arab world and its role in resolving some issues in the Arab world.
H H the Emir also expressed condolences to the President and the Russian people on the victims of the shopping Mall fire in Kemerovo city, wishing the wounded a speedy recovery.
The meeting was attended by a number of Their Excellencies members of the official delegation accompanying H H the Emir. H H Emir attended a dinner banquet hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin in honour of His Highness and the accompanying delegation, at the Kremlin Palace in Moscow.
During the banquet, H H the Emir and the Russian President discussed the results of the work of the Qatari-Russian joint committee for trade, economic and technical cooperation and the prospects of enhancing them, as well as ways to develop military cooperation between the two countries.
They also exchanged talks about the activities of the Cultural Year Qatar and Russia 2018. H H the Emir also visited yesterday the Russian national museum for fine art (Tretyakov Gallery). During the visit, H H the Emir was briefed on a number of historic and contemporary works as well as paintings by Russian artists. H H the Emir was also briefed on the museum’s historic collections, art works and the ancient icons of Russia which extends from the Middle Ages to the modern era. After the visit H H the Emir posted on his Instagram account, “It was an enjoyable visit to the Tretyakov Gallery at the Russian National Museum in Moscow, where I learned about the extended history of Russian arts.
The Qatar-Russia Culture Year 2018, will witnesses building new bridges of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, and we look forward to hosting Qatar-Russia Exhibition 2018, in Doha.”
