New Delhi (NVI): External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, will visit Qatar on December 27-28, to discuss bilateral and international issues with his Qatari counterpart.
During the visit, he is scheduled to meet the Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, according to a statement released by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
He will also call on other important dignitaries of the State of Qatar, MEA added.
India and Qatar have maintained close high-level contacts during the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Amir of the State of Qatar, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani have spoken thrice on telephone in the past few months, the statement read.
EAM and other Cabinet Ministers have also spoken with their Qatari counterparts, MEA stated.
India and Qatar enjoy strong economic, cultural and people-to-people ties. Qatar hosts more than 7 lakh Indians. The bilateral trade was US$ 10.95 billion in 2019-20. Both sides remain committed to intensify bilateral cooperation in various fields including energy and investments.
India and Qatar have also worked together to face the Covid-19 pandemic and coordinated smooth operation of flights under an Air Bubble arrangement.
The External Affairs Minister will also convey special gratitude to the State of Qatar for taking care of Indians during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Notably, this will be the first visit of Jaishankar to Qatar as EAM.
-CHK
