QATAR and the People’s Republic of China held official talks in Doha yesterday at the Emiri Diwan, co- chaired by HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping. The talks covered co-operation ties between the two countries and means of bolstering them in the economic and trade fields as well as a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern. Following the talks, the Heir Apparent and the Chinese Vice- President witnessed the signing of a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding between the two countries. HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping witnessing the signing of an agreement between Qatar and China yesterday A letter of intent was signed between Qatar Petroleum (QP), Chinese Limited Company PetroChina and Dutch Shell Company for the preparation of joint preliminary feasibility studies for building a refinery and a petrochemicals production complex and their marketing in China. An MoU pertaining to co-operation in the oil sector between China National Petroleum Company and Qatar Petroleum International, an MoU on strategic co-operation in the field of condensates between the two companies were also signed. An LNG sale-purchase agreement was also signed between Qatar Petroleum and China National Maritime Petroleum Company. The agreements and MoUs were signed HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah who is also board Chairman of Qatar Petroleum International. HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani welcomes Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping in Doha yesterday. The Chinese vice-president was accorded an official welcome ceremony at the Doha International Airport For the Chinese side they were signed by President of the National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) Jiang Jemin and Executive Director Gas and Power Royal Dutch Shell Linda Cook. The two sides also signed agreement for exchanging of investments, an agreement for establishing twinship between Doha and Beijing, as well as an agreement for regulating recruitment of Chinese manpower in Qatar. The agreements were signed by Labour and Social Affairs Undersecretary Hussein al-Mulla, head of the Customs and Ports General Authority Ahmed Ali al-Muhannadi and assistant undersecretary of the Economy and Commerce Ministry Mohamed Hassan al-Saadi. On the Chinese side, the agreements were signed by the Deputy Trade Minister, the Deputy Mayor of Beijing and the President of the Chinese Stanardisation Administration. The talks were attended by HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani, HE the Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs HE Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud, Minister of Finance and Acting Minister of Economy and Commerce HE Yousef Hussein Kamal, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs HE Sultan bin Hassan al-Dhabit al-Dossari and Minister of State for Energy and Industry Affairs HE Mohamed bin Saleh al-Saddah. On the Chinese side, the talks were attended by Vice Chairman of China National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Zhu Zhixin, Chinese Ambassador to Qatar Yue Xiaoyong, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Yesui, Vice Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng, Deputy Director of Political Studies Bureau at the Central Committee, Director General of the Chinese Corporation for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Deputy Director of West Asian and North African Department at the Foreign Ministry. Earlier, HH the Heir Apparent led well-wishers to welcome the Chinese Vice-President and his accompanying delegation upon arrival at Doha International Airport on a two-day official visit to Qatar. The Chinese leader was accorded an official welcome ceremony. In a statement upon arrival, Xi Jinping said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Qatar in 1988, the two countries had maintained close co--operation in all political, economic and cultural fields. China attaches great importance to the Chinese-Qatari relations and is ready to exert joint efforts with Qatar to strengthen friendship ties and enhance co-operation so that relations between the two countries would be far better developed, Xi Jinxing added. HH the Heir Apparent hosted a luncheon banquet at the Emiri Diwan in honour of the Chinese delegation. lHE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani met the Chinese Vice-President to review Qatari-Chinese relations as well as regional and international issues of common interest. The meeting was attended among other by Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, Minister of Finance and acting Minister of Economy and Commerce HE Yousef Hussein Kamal and the Minister of State for Energy and Industry Affairs and head of accompanying mission of honour HE Mohamed Saleh al Sadah. The Premier and Foreign Minister hosted a dinner banquet in honour of the Chinese delegation. Also, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah met the Chinese vice-president. They reviewed co-operation between the two friendly countries and ways of enhancing them, especially in energy and gas spheres. – QNA

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