An official round of talks was held yesterday between Qatar and Portugal chaired by HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates. During the talks, they reviewed bilateral relations as well as a number of regional and international issues if mutual concern. After the talks, the Emir and the Portuguese premier attended the signing of a joint statement to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries, an agreement to encourage and protect mutual investments, and a memorandum of understanding between Qatar Olympic Committee and the Olympic Committee of Portugal in the field of sports. The joint statement, the agreement and the MoU were signed for Qatar by HE the Minister of Business and Trade Sheikh Fahad bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Abdurrahman al-Thani and HE the Minister of State for International Co-operation Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah. Signing for Portugal were Minister of State and Foreign Minister Luis Amado, Minister for Economy and Innovation Manuel Pinho and President of the Olympic Committee of Portugal Jose Vicente de Moura. The talks were attended by HE the Minister of Economy and Finance Yousef Hussein Kamal, HE the Chief of the Emiri Diwan Sheikh Abdurrahman bin Saud al-Thani, HE the Minister of State for Energy and Industry Affairs Dr Mohamed Saleh al-Saddah, HE the Minister of Business and Trade Sheikh Fahad bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Abdurrahman al-Thani, HE the Minister of State for International Co-operation Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, HE the Director of HH the Emir’s Office Sheikha Hind bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, HH the Emir’s Secretary for Follow-up Affairs HE Saad bin Mohamed al-Rumaihi, Economic Adviser at the Emiri Diwan and Secretary General of Development Planning General Secretariat HE Dr Ibrahim al-Ibrahim, Qatar’s Ambassador to Portugal Mohamed Jahham al-Kuwari and Assistant Director of the European and American Affairs Department at the Foreign Ministry Ambassador Abdurrahman al-Mighaisib. On the Portuguese side, the talks were attended by Minister of State and Foreign Minister Luis Amado, Minister of State and Finance Minister Fernando Teixeira dos Santos and Minister for Economy and Innovation Manuel Pinho. The Emir then attended a luncheon banquet hosted by Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates in his honour. Later the Emir and Sheikha Mozah left Lisbon, wrapping up a two-day visit to Portugal. They were seen off at Lisbon International Airport by several ministers, Qatar’s Ambassador to Portugal Mohamed Jahham al-Kuwari, Portugal’s Ambassador to Qatar Aristides Vieira and the Qatari embassy staff. - QNA

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