Doha, 19 August 2022 (TDI): Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani concluded his Four-Country Asia Tour on 18 August.
During the Four-Country Asia Tour, bilateral relations between Qatar and the Asian countries as well as issues of mutual interest took place.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs @MBA_AlThani_ Concludes Successful Four-Country Asia Tour
🔗To learn more: https://t.co/6o2o8V8pS0#MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/Y3noXqzEF2
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) August 18, 2022
The Four-Country Asia Tour lasted 10 days and Minister Al-Thani visited four countries. These countries included the Republic of Singapore, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Republic of South Korea.
أختتم اليوم زيارتي لعدد من الدول الآسيوية والتي سعدت خلالها بلقاء عدد من الزملاء والمسؤولين، كما قمنا بتوقيع عدد من الاتفاقيات الثنائية لتعميق وتعزيز التعاون مع كل من #سنغافورة و #ماليزيا و #فيتنام و #كوريا. أكدت خلال لقاءاتي على أهمية آسيا في منظورنا الاستراتيجي والاقتصادي. pic.twitter.com/bvonjWRTQR
— محمد بن عبدالرحمن (@MBA_AlThani_) August 18, 2022
The Minister embarked on the tour after Qatar signed the instrument of accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This happened during the ASEAN 55th Ministerial Meeting in Phnom Penh.
Also read: Qatari Foreign Minister begins Asian Tour
During the tour, Minister Al-Thani held 16 meetings with the heads of state of the four Asian countries as well as his counterparts and many officials and businessperson.
Minister Al-Thani in Singapore
The Qatari Foreign Minister held meetings with the President of Singapore, Halimah Yacob, the Minister of Interior and Law, K. Shanmugam, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lawrence Wong.
The Foreign Minister also held meetings with the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Education, Mohammed Maliki bin Osman.
He also met with Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Teo Chee Hean. Furthermore, Minister Al-Thani also participated in a policy roundtable meeting.
The President of Singapore thanked Qatar for facilitating the evacuation of people from Afghanistan. Furthermore, Minister Wong supported the establishment of the Asian Office of the Qatar Investment Authority in Singapore.
At the meeting with Minister Osman, he emphasized the significance of the Singapore-Qatar High-Level meeting (HLJC). According to Minister Osman, the HLJC serves as a platform for strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Minister Al-Thani in Malaysia
The Qatari Minister met with many officials in Malaysia including Malaysian Businessmen. The King of Malaysia, Al-Sultan Abdulla Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, welcomed Minister Al-Thani.
The King welcomed the future investments of Qatari companies as well as the expansion of Qatari businesses in Malaysia.
He also expressed Malaysia’s commitment to Malaysia-Qatar cooperation in addressing the post-COVID-19 pandemic. This includes activities such as developing vaccines and antiviral drugs as well as the exchange of experiences, research, and expertise.
Minister Al-Thani and the Malaysian Prime Minister
Minister Al-Thani also met with Malaysia’s Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaqoub, and Malaysia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Saifuddin Abdullah.
The Malaysian Prime Minister expressed hope that the meetings between Qatar and Malaysia will promote bilateral relations and facilitate ways to address issues of mutual concern.
He also emphasized that Malaysia and Qatar can establish a strategic framework for food security. This can be done through partnerships with Baladna Food Industries and FGV Holdings Bhd to supply dairy cows ready for breeding in Chuping, Perlis, and Pahang.
Regarding investments, the Prime Minister also highlighted that Baladha’s collaboration with Malaysia’s FGV enhanced Farming Sdn Bhd for the growth of the largest dairy company in the area through Perlis and Pahang.
He also extended his good wishes for Qatar in hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The Malaysian Prime Minister also referred to the trade relations between the two countries as “very good”.
Furthermore, he also said that the two countries are committed to strengthening their ties with new investment opportunities and activities. However, Prime Minister Yaqoub also added that the two countries are supposed to come up with new ways to enhance bilateral relations.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister also showed appreciation to Qatar for supporting Rohingya Refugees in the healthcare industry.
Furthermore, Malaysia’s Senior Minister and Minister of International Trade and Industry Mohammed Azmin Ali also met with Minister Al-Thani.
Minister AL-Thani in Vietnam
Minister Al-Thani met with Vietnam’s Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chinh, and the Foreign Minister of Vietnam, Bui Thanh Son.
Prime Minister Chinh and Minister Al-Thani emphasized the need for coordination to successfully prepare for the 30th- Anniversary celebration of diplomatic relations in 2023.
This includes exchanging visits, enhancing cultural and sporting exchange as well as promoting joint support in multilateral forums, and regional and international organizations such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and ASEAN.
The Vietnamese Minister also assured Minister Al-Thani that Vietnam will facilitate Qatari companies and investment funds to survey the market.
He shared that he hopes that there will be an increase in tourists from Qatar to Vietnam. This will help the recovery of the local tourism sector in a post-COVID-19 pandemic era.
Minister Al-Thani in South Korea
The Qatari Minister also met with the president of the Republic of South Korea, Yoon Suk-Yeol. He also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Park Jin, and the speaker of the National Assembly, Kim Jin-Pyo.
He extended the warm greetings and good wishes of the ruler of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, for South Korea.
The President also expressed South Korea’s willingness to enhance relations with Qatar, particularly in the energy, technology, and food security sectors. He also lauded Qatar for its role in the signing of the Doha Peace Agreement in Chad.
He also appreciated Qatar for participating in the Politico-military movements on the sovereign national dialogue.
With South Korea’s Foreign Minister, the Qatari Minister reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to enhance relations in the economic, investment, and energy sectors.
