Emir of Qatar concludes Asian tour

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani arrived in Doha on Thursday in conclusion of a tour on Asia that covered seven countries (Pakistan, India, China, Thailand, Southern Korea, Japan and Kazakhstan).

The tour lasted 17 days. The Qatari delegation which accompanied the Emir included the deputy Premier Sheikh Muhammad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani, the Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jasem al-Thani and the minister of energy, industry, electricity and waters Abdullah Bin Hamad al-Ateyah.

The main objectives of the tour that were debated in the visited said countries were: supporting cooperation and "economic partnership" especially in the areas of energy and importing gas of which Qatar owns extra reserves.

During the tour several economic agreements and memorandum of understanding were signed. Japan said that "the new partnership between the two countries" will be in the context of the "Japanese - Arab Gulf cooperation towards the 21st century." The talks held by the Qatari delegation were not limited to the economic side, rather Arab and Islamic issues were discussed.

Stressed was laid on all the said countries on the "importance of just and comprehensive peace and Israel's withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories including the Golan and South Lebanon." The Emir of Qatar backed the nomination of India and Japan for the UN Security Council permanent membership. Moreover, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa will visit Germany by the end of next month.