By Wang Bozun
Global Times - 2017/12/17
China and Qatar have enjoyed an excellent relationship. On the occasion of the National Day of the State of Qatar, Global Times reporter Wang Bozun(GT) interviewed the Qatari Ambassador to China, H.E. Sultan S. Almansouri (Sultan), to discuss Sino-Qatari relations, cooperation and regional issues.
"Qatari-Chinese relations at this time in history are at their best, and as my country's ambassador to China, I am very satisfied with the rapid progress in relations between the two countries." - Sultan Qatari Ambassador to China H.E. Sultan S. Almansouri Photo: Courtesy of Qatari Embassy GT: From your point of view, how is China's Belt and Road initiative developing from the Qatar side? Sultan: Qatar is one of the early countries to support this initiative, and we have signed a memorandum of understanding between the NDRC [National Development and Reform Commission] and Qatar on cooperating bilaterally on this initiative. Qatar has become a member of the AIIB [Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank], where we will become a leading member of the initiative. In 2015, an offshore RMB [yuan] center was opened in Doha. This center is one of the biggest centers in the region, serving Qatar, the Middle East region and some African countries. For the last three years, we have been holding a Made in China exhibition in Doha, which is growing every year. This is about gathering major and giant companies to conduct bilateral sorts of agreements in Qatar and the region, and it has been successfully done. Last year, we completed a very successful cultural year for Qatar and China, with a lot of activities [occurring] between the two countries. I think this initiative is a [beneficial] one for all Asian countries, and the whole world, and we will keep on supporting it. Qatar will not just be a transit or a station in this initiative, [but will also] play an important role in it.
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