President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday received the Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Istanbul's Vahdettin Pavilion to discuss bilateral ties and regional issues.
Emir's visit to Turkey will bring continuous coordination and great rapprochement on bilateral relations and important issues, Qatar's ambassador to Ankara said Thursday.
Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani told Anadolu Agency (AA) that the emir's visit to Turkey coincided with a period when the world is going through great challenges and difficult times at all levels, and that requires constructive cooperation and exchange of views on regional and international developments in order to face and counter these challenges.
Emphasizing that the visit takes place in the context of continuous coordination on important issues with bilateral relations and a great convergence in attitudes toward these issues, the envoy praised the durability and sustainability of Qatar-Turkey relations, strategic cooperation in all sectors, as well as the great harmony in many international and regional issues.
Turkey and Qatar in December signed 15 different agreements to enhance cooperation between the two countries, while President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the ruling emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, met in Doha to co-chair the seventh meeting of the Turkey-Qatar Supreme Strategic Committee.
Ankara and Doha enjoy strong relations, particularly since the 2017 blockade of the Gulf country by Saudi Arabia and others. The two countries have strengthened military and economic ties in recent years. The sixth meeting of the Turkey-Qatar Supreme Strategic Committee was held in 2020 in the Turkish capital Ankara. Ten agreements were signed between the two countries in the presence of the two leaders. Within the framework of the Supreme Strategic Committee meetings, a total of 68 agreements and protocols were signed between the two countries before.
Turkish-Qatari relations are also witnessing a growing and continuous cooperation at various levels, with high coordination on many regional and international issues, including the Libyan crisis and Afghanistan. In addition to bilateral trade and diplomatic relations, the two countries played a pivotal role in supporting the legitimate Libyan government and defending Tripoli against putschist Gen. Khalifa Haftar's forces in a 14-month offensive. They also cooperated to reopen the Kabul airport after the Taliban took over following the government's fall and the withdrawal of the United States forces.
