Doha: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his counterpart from Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani on Monday discussed regional and multilateral developments.
“Thank @MBA_AlThani_ Deputy PM and Foreign Minister of Qatar for a very productive visit. Reviewed the entire gamut of our growing partnership. Discussed regional and multilateral developments. Looking forward to welcoming him to India for the Joint Commission meeting,” Dr Jaishankar said in a series of tweets.
Dr Jaishankar, who is on a two-day visit to the Middle East nation, also visited the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, a 2022 World Cup venue built by an Indian firm L&T on Monday evening.
He was accompanied by Dr. Deepak Mittal, the Indian Ambassador in Qatar.
Earlier, he was called on important dignitaries of the State of Qatar, including Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Amir of Qatar and the Prime Minister.
“Warm meeting with H.H Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. His leadership continues to guide India-Qatar relations. Appreciated his insights on global and regional developments,” he said in another tweet.
Dr Jaishankar also handed over a written message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani regarding bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and means of supporting and strengthening them.
“Called on H.H. @TamimBinHamad, Amir of Qatar. Handed over a personal communication from PM @narendramodi. Deeply value H.H.'s warm sentiments for Indian community. Impressed by his vision of taking our partnership to a new level,” he said.
“Called on PM and Interior Minister @KBKAlThani. Thanked him for the care given to the Indian community in Qatar during COVID times. Discussed strengthening our bilateral economic and security cooperation,” he added.
West Asian nations that also included Qatar are pivotal to India’s energy security and Diaspora welfare.
In September, on their way to Moscow for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting, both Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made a stopover in Tehran to meet their counterparts.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited Kuwait and offered condolences on behalf of India on the passing away of former Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al Ahmed al Jaber al Sabah.
In November, Dr Jaishankar visited UAE and Bahrain.
And, earlier this month, in the first-ever visit to West Asia, the Indian Army Chief MM Naravane visited Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
This month the Minister of State in the MEA V Muraleedharan visited Oman.
Around seven lakh Indians living and working in Qatar and many of them send big amounts of remittances back to India.
