Al Attiyah: 'Japan a Very Good Partner of the Middle East'

Doha, August 27 (QNA) - Chairman of Administrative Control and Transparency Authority, HE Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah has praised the distinguished bilateral relations between Qatar and Japan considering it as an example of successful cooperation and partnership between the Middle East countries and Japan. Addressing the 37th Japan Co-operation Forum for the Middle East at the Sheraton Doha today, HE Al Attiyah said he is pleased to host this forum while marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the State of Qatar and Japan. The Japan Co-operation Centre for the Middle East (JCCME) organizes the event in collaboration with the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on August 27 and 28. This is the first time that the forum is being held in Qatar. The forum aims at discussing and exchanging views on the political and economic situation of the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) countries in order to give an overall picture and direction of measures to enhance industrial co-operation between Japan and the Mena region. " Ever since Qatar became an independent sovereign State, it has given top priority to develop and maintain friendly, beneficial and diverse economic ties with Japan based on trust mutual respect and win-win cooperation," said HE Al Attiyah. "The Qatari Economy has been transformed in recent years thanks to the vision of HH Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar and his wise leadership," he went on saying, adding that " Qatar's strategy is based on the development of the country's natural resources for the benefit of the people and the diversification of the economy in preparation of a better and more sustainable future for the next generations. " "We in Qatar always remember that Japan was the first country to partner with us in our mega gas projects in the early nineties through the signing of a long term LNG supply agreement between Chubu Electric and Qatargas. This was our first ever export commitment that allowed us to be on the LNG exporters map and helped shape our subsequent steady progress to become the largest LNG producer and exporter in the world," said Al Attiyah.