Doha, April 15 (QNA) - The State of Qatar and the Republic of Lebanon share deep-rooted historical ties based on brotherhood, cooperation, mutual respect, and sincere Arab solidarity. These relations have experienced remarkable growth and development across various political, economic, and commercial fields.

As a reflection of the mutual desire to strengthen ties between Doha and Beirut, HE President of the Republic of Lebanon General Joseph Aoun is paying an official visit to Qatar, during which HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani will meet HE President General Joseph Aoun at the Amiri Diwan to discuss bilateral relations and prospects for their development in various sectors in a way that serves the interests of both nations and their peoples.

Diplomatic relations between Qatar and Lebanon date back to the early 1970s, with the inauguration of the Qatari embassy in Beirut and the Lebanese embassy in Doha in 1972. The strength and depth of Qatari-Lebanese ties are rooted in a long-standing history of distinguished relations and a rich record of Qatari support for Lebanon, as Qatar has always been at the forefront in providing Lebanon with political, diplomatic, moral, and material support throughout recent decades.

Qatar’s role has been particularly notable in mediation and diplomacy at Lebanon’s times of crises, as when Doha hosted the the Lebanese National Dialogue Conference back in 2008, yielding the Doha Agreement, which was a significant turning point in Lebanon’s history as it helped resolve a severe political crisis, achieve national reconciliation, and pave the way for the election of a new president.

Moreover, Qatar continued its political support for Lebanon by participating in international conferences dedicated to Lebanon such as the International Conference in Support of Lebanon's People and Sovereignty held in Paris.

Over the years, the State of Qatar has consistently demonstrated both in word and deed its full solidarity and unwavering support for Lebanon on all fronts, especially following the July 2006 war. This support went beyond political and humanitarian aid to include reconstruction efforts. Qatar played a pivotal role in post-war rebuilding by providing substantial financial and logistical assistance to help restore infrastructure and damaged homes. Special attention was also given to supporting the Lebanese Army, by providing it with financial aid and fuel supplies to help maintain the army’s capabilities amid Lebanon’s economic crisis.

Following the tragic Beirut Port explosion in 2020, Qatar was among the first countries to respond, providing urgent medical, food, and relief assistance, in addition to contributing to the restoration of the Lebanese National Library, damaged by the blast. Additionally, Qatar supported Lebanon’s education sector through various initiatives aimed at improving education quality and ensuring learning opportunities for all.

As part of its ongoing support for the Lebanese army, Qatar provided monthly food supplies for military personnel and announced a USD 50 million contribution for the reconstruction of Beirut Port.

During the recent Israeli aggression on Lebanon, Qatar, under the directives of HH the Amir, launched an air bridge that delivered tens of tons of aid and relief supplies to the Lebanese people.

These ongoing official visits between Qatari and Lebanese officials play a crucial role in enhancing bilateral relations and deepening cooperation in various fields.

HH the Amir attended the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in Beirut in January 2019, demonstrating Qatar’s foreign policy commitment and its continuous support for Lebanon.

In July 2010, HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani visited Lebanon, held talks with the Lebanese President, and toured areas in southern Lebanon.

In January 2017, then-President of Lebanon Michel Aoun paid an official visit to the State of Qatar, which was his second foreign visit after taking office highlighting the importance Lebanon places on its relationship with Qatar. More recently, in February, HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani visited Beirut and met with HE President Joseph Aoun and several senior Lebanese officials.

During the visit, His Excellency reaffirmed Qatar's congratulations on the election of General Joseph Aoun as President of the Republic, expressing hope that this step would contribute to establishing security and stability in Lebanon. His Excellency emphasized that his visit to Beirut represents Qatar's support for Lebanon, reaffirming that Qatar always stands by Lebanon and the Lebanese people both in times of joy and hardship.

His Excellency reaffirmed that the State of Qatar's support for Lebanon will continue in form of providing humanitarian aid, supporting social work, and backing the Lebanese Armed Forces the military institution that unites all Lebanese. His Excellency stressed that Qatar is committed to continuing its support for the Lebanese people and looks forward, following the formation of a new Lebanese government, to exploring ways to cooperate with it in supporting Lebanese state institutions and working on joint projects.

Relations between the two countries are governed by a number of agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) that reinforce cooperation between Doha and Beirut in various fields, especially economic, investment, agricultural, media, security, tourism, legal sectors, and in the area of mutual investment promotion and protection.

Economic and trade cooperation between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Lebanon has witnessed significant growth over the years, reflecting the commitment of both countries to expanding trade and investment prospects. Around 1,500 Qatari-Lebanese joint companies operate in the Qatari market across various economic sectors, in addition to 29 fully Lebanese-owned companies active in diverse fields. The Qatari market is one of the largest destinations for Lebanese products, with trade between the two countries making remarkable leaps in recent years particularly in agricultural goods.

There is a regular exchange of bilateral visits between ministers, trade delegations, and officials to discuss bilateral ties and regional issues of mutual concern. In November 2023, the Qatari Businessmen Association received a Lebanese economic delegation headed by HE Minister of Economy and Trade in Lebanon's caretaker government Amin Salam who praised Qatari investments supporting Lebanon's economy, highlighting many viable investment opportunities in the country that Qatari businesspeople can seize.

For his part, HE Qatari Businessmen Association Chairman Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al-Thani, praised the strong fraternal relations between Qatar and Lebanon, pointing to long-standing Qatari businessmen's investments in Lebanon dating back to the 1970s. His Excellency stressed the familiarity with the Lebanese market and its opportunities, emphasizing the need to capitalize on them to enhance trade between the two countries. He also said the Qatari Businessmen Association and the general Qatari business community's are ready to invest in Lebanon once stability is restored.

In November 2023, HE Minister of Economy and Trade in Lebanon's caretaker government Amin Salam invited Qatari businessmen to explore the investment opportunities in Lebanon firsthand, especially in sectors such as food security, energy, and tourism.

This came during Salam's meeting with HE Qatari Businessmen Association Chairman Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al-Thani, during which they discussed avenues of cooperation and ways to strengthen trade and economic relations between the private sectors of both countries.

On the cultural front, HE Minister of Education and Higher Education Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al Khater paid an official working visit to Lebanon on April 9, accompanied by a high-level educational delegation. The visit aimed to learn from Lebanon's experience in developing education, particularly in curriculum design, and to explore ways to strengthen educational cooperation between the two countries.

In March, HE Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny praised the longstanding historical relations between Lebanon and Qatar and Qatar's consistent support for his country throughout different stages. His Excellency spoke to Qatar News Agency (QNA) of the need to advance cooperation via joint projects, especially with regards to air and sea ports, in addition to transportation, in order to support economic development and improve Lebanon's infrastructure. He emphasized that the ministry's top priorities include rehabilitating infrastructure damaged during the recent Israeli aggression on Lebanon, with a focus on repairing roads, border crossings, and vital facilities such as air and sea ports. (QNA)