Saudi Arabia and Qatar have strengthened cooperation on economic and political issues and seek to formulate common positions that safeguard their security and stability.
During the conclusion of the two-day state visit of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, to Qatar, the two countries made a joint statement that underlined the need to take advantage of the vast economic opportunities pertaining to infrastructure projects, free zones, logistics, gas and energy, especially during the period of Qatar hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Saudi Crown Prince co-chaired the 6th Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council meeting and said they were satisfied with what was achieved during the session. The two countries also expressed their satisfaction over their military cooperation and emphasized the need to continue it.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar said they were keen to develop economic and commercial cooperation, increase the volume of intra-trade, facilitate the flow of trade movement, and take advantage of economic, commercial and industrial opportunities.
Further, the two countries agreed to enhance cooperation on international climate policies and renewable energy, implement a circular carbon economy, and contribute to the sustainability of demand for global energy supplies.
Other areas of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Qatar include air transport, telecommunications and information technology, cybersecurity, financial technologies, digital marketing, and offering incentives to the business sectors in both countries, especially during Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup, in a way that contributes to the success of this major event and achieves the two countries’ 2030 visions.
In their joint statement, the two countries reiterated their common view of finding a peaceful solution to all the regional issues. They stressed the need for Lebanon not to be a launching pad for any actions that destabilize the security of the region, and to undertake comprehensive reforms to ensure that the country overcomes its crises. Further, they lauded the electoral process in Iraq. They also stressed the importance of reaching political solutions to the Yemeni and Syrian crises.
Qatar was the third stop in the crown prince’s tour of Gulf countries, following the UAE and Oman. Last day, the Crown Prince arrived in Bahrain on the fourth leg of his GCC tour, ahead of visiting Kuwait. The tour is in line with the GCC Summit which will be held in Riyadh during this month.
