Doha, December 18 (QNA) - HE Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the State Alvaro Renedo Zalba affirmed that the State of Qatar’s celebration of National Day embodies the memory of the founding of the State by Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani in 1878, noting that his wise leadership laid the foundations of a unified state enjoying sovereignty and independence.

In an exclusive statement to the Qatar News Agency (QNA), His Excellency extended his sincerest congratulations to HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, to the wise leadership, and to the people of the State of Qatar. He expressed his wishes for Qatar’s continued progress, prosperity, and justice, and praised its constructive role and ongoing efforts to support peace and stability at both the regional and international levels.

He added that, on this cherished occasion, he was honored to convey a sincere message of friendship on behalf of Spain and to reaffirm Spain’s firm commitment to continuing to deepen and broaden the horizons of cooperation with the State of Qatar across various fields, based on the close bonds of friendship, mutual trust, and understanding that unite the two countries.

He said that the National Day represents a dear national occasion that reflects the depth of Qatari heritage and national identity, and recalls the values of unity and resilience passed down from generation to generation. He also noted that this day constitutes an inclusive celebratory moment for residents from all parts of the world, particularly Spanish citizens, who join Qatar in celebrating its achievements and the stability and spirit of coexistence it enjoys, while contributing in turn to its ongoing journey toward development and prosperity.

The Spanish ambassador spoke about the role played by the State of Qatar in the field of diplomacy, pointing to the consolidation of its position as an influential diplomatic actor on the international stage. Through its continuous mediation efforts, Qatar plays a pivotal role in supporting peace and stability, adopting dialogue and diplomacy as a means to address conflicts at both the regional and international levels. Spain stands alongside Qatar in this vital role, as both countries share a belief in the importance of diplomacy, international law, and multilateralism as fundamental pillars of the global order.

He added that this shared commitment to dialogue as a means of achieving peace is reflected in how the two countries engage with their international surroundings. Just as Qatar has become an effective link within the international system, Spain plays the role of a bridge country connecting Europe with the Americas, Africa, and the Arab world. He emphasized that this shared role embodies an open global vision held by both Qatar and Spain, rooted in history and oriented toward the future.

He also said that the State of Qatar has witnessed remarkable development over recent decades across various economic and social fields, becoming a modern and dynamic state while simultaneously preserving its authentic cultural heritage. Within the framework of Qatar National Vision 2030, and through successive national development strategies, the State has laid clear foundations to achieve sustainable growth and long-term prosperity.

The Spanish ambassador highlighted that Qatar places great emphasis on investment in vital future-oriented sectors, foremost among them education, healthcare, energy, infrastructure, technology, innovation, agriculture, and human capital development, which strengthens economic diversification and supports social well-being for current and future generations.

Regarding the development of relations between the two countries, he said that they were witnessing an unprecedented level of closeness and solidity, based on mutual trust, shared respect, and commitment to the values of peace, international law, and multilateralism. He noted that these relations continue to develop steadily, driven by high-level exchanges of visits and a shared vision for establishing a long-term strategic partnership.

He pointed out that over the past six weeks, three Spanish ministers (the ministers of foreign affairs, interior, and social policies) had paid official visits to Qatar, during which they held bilateral meetings with their Qatari counterparts and participated in major international summits and events hosted by Doha, including the United Nations World Summit for Social Development and the Doha Forum.

He concluded his statement to QNA by saying that the strategic dialogue between the two countries constitutes a solid framework for enhancing cooperation across various fields, and that this cooperation is particularly evident in diplomacy, culture, education, innovation, sports, internal affairs, investment, trade, and infrastructure, reflecting the depth, diversity, and promising prospects of bilateral relations. (QNA)