US highlights Qatari crown prince's visit

The US State Department on Friday said in a statement at the conclusion of Qatari Crown Prince Sheikh Jassem Bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani's February 22 - March 9 visit to the United States that the visit symbolizes the bilateral relations between the US and Qatar and "reflects the desire of both governments to have regular senior-level consultations to discuss a wide-range of bilateral and regional issues."

"While in Washington March 6-9, Sheikh Jassem met with White House and State Department officials, Secretary of Defense Cohen, Secretary of Energy Richardson, and a number of other senior officials in the Administration," the statement, delivered by State Department spokesman James Rubin, said, adding that the discussions addressed "topics of mutual interest and concern, including the Middle East Peace Process and Iraq, and both sides expressed their strong desire to continue their close military and economic cooperation."