Ambassador of Qatar to Germany: Bilateral Relations Are Characterized By Strong Friendship, Promising Strategic Partnership
Berlin, November 29 (QNA) - HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Federal Republic of Germany Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Thani stressed that the Qatari-German relations are friendly, strong and represent a promising strategic partnership.
In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Thani said that bilateral relations witnessed over the past five decades remarkable growth and prosperity at all levels, until the State of Qatar became one of the most important international partners of the Federal Republic of Germany, noting that Qatar became a significant strategic partner for Germany in the Middle East region given the strength of the economic and prosperous trade relations between the two friendly countries.
He added that the two countries are closely linked through a number of economic agreements and MOU, the most important of which are the agreements concluded in the field of energy, as well as the industrial, commercial, health, cultural, sports, solar energy, aviation and air transport fields, in addition to the agreement to establish a joint committee for trade and economic cooperation, which was able to organize many conferences and seminars over the past years.
He pointed out that the Qatari-German economic relations have witnessed steady growth over the past five decades, making Qatar the most prominent economic partner for Germany in the region, as Germany ranks 3rd among the European countries that attract Qatari investments after the UK and France. The State of Qatar is also one of the largest investors in Germany with an investment volume of about 25 billion euros in the automobile industry, communications, banking services, and other important sectors.
HE the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Federal Republic of Germany stated that the pace of these investments increased following the historic visit of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to Germany 2018, during which he announced the State of Qatar's intention to invest 10 billion euros in the German economy over the next five years, which reflects the depth and strength of bilateral relations at all levels.
On investment and trade between the two countries, he said that Qatar is considered the largest shareholder in the huge Volkswagen Group, with a share amounting to $9 billion, in addition to a 21 percent stake in the leading Siemens company, which specializes in the field of energy and electronics, as well as healthcare and infrastructure.
He noted that Qatar also owns a 6.1 percent stake in Deutsche Bank, one of the most important international banks known for its pioneering role in major global investments and deals. The country also owns a 49 percent stake in SolarWorld, a company that manufactures solar panel technology, which is classified as one of the largest international companies in this field.
HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Federal Republic of Germany Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Thani went on to say that Qatari investments were not limited to companies operating in the industrial and technological sector, as they extended to the shipping sector through investment in Hapag-Lloyd, one of the largest shipping companies in the world.
Qatar also owns a stake in Hochtief Company, which is considered one of the largest construction companies in the country, and also invests in the energy supply group RWE AG, one of the largest producers of renewable energy in the world, with a value of 2.4 billion euros, he said.
Regarding the volume of trade exchange between Qatar and Germany, he said that it reached more than $2 billion during the past year, adding that the data available for this year until August indicate that the volume of trade amounted to more than $1.3 billion, and it is expected to exceed $2 billion at the end of the year.
He pointed out that the distinguished bilateral relations between Qatar and Germany witnessed over the past year a state of real rapprochement between the Arab and German cultures, which led to the opening of the Arab Cultural House 'Al-Diwan' in Berlin in 2017 to serve as the most prominent starting point for deepening civilizational and cultural communication between the two countries.
This Cultural House is of great importance, because it is the first Qatari cultural center in Europe, and its inauguration in the German capital has contributed to an ideal development of Qatari-German cultural relations, he said.
HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Federal Republic of Germany Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Thani said that the generous visit made by HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the Diwan on the sideline of His Highness' opening of the 9th Qatar Germany Business and Investment Forum in Sept.
2018 gave the Cultural House further weight and expressed the importance that the State of Qatar attaches to enhancing cultural exchange with the rest of the world. HE said that the political and economic circles expect that the upcoming visit of HE President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier will increase the strength of the distinguished relations between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Germany, adding that it will contribute to developing and pushing bilateral cooperation and partnership between the two countries to new horizons in various fields, to serve the interests of both countries and people.
He stressed that the importance that official and unofficial circles attach to this visit is clear from their collective praise of the constructive mediation role that Qatari diplomacy is currently playing in the prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel.
Regarding the most prominent files that will be discussed during the visit, HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Federal Republic of Germany noted that the role of Qatari mediation in the release of detainees will be among the most prominent topics that the bilateral discussions will address during this visit, especially since His Excellency President Steinmeier, who is visiting Qatar for the first time, is expecting that the German detainees held by Hamas will be released through this mediation.
It is also expected that means of reaching a lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East and the prominent mediation role played by Qatar in settling regional and international conflicts will be discussed.
In this regard, he noted that HE Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany Annalena Baerbock expressed her country’s gratitude for the commitment of the State of Qatar towards the issue of releasing prisoners, while HE the Director-General for Political Affairs and Special Envoy for Libya Christian Buck expressed his appreciation for the distinguished mediation role played by the State of Qatar in the Middle East, hoping that its success in achieving the pause agreement will revive hope for the Israeli and German hostages, as well as the civilian population in Gaza.
It is worth noting that bilateral relations between the two countries have witnessed remarkable development in recent years, reflected in the intensification of mutual visits at the highest levels, which recently culminated in the visit of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to Berlin at the beginning of last October, which received great resonance among German political and media circles, given that Qatar is one of Germany's most important partners, in addition to its role as the most prominent mediator capable of negotiating and resolving the issues and crises plaguing the region.
In turn, German leaders have been organizing repeated visits to Doha over the past years, both German Presidents and successive heads of governments. HE German Economy and Energy Minister Robert Habeck visited Doha in March 2022, during which cooperation in the field of energy was discussed, especially as Germany is working to reduce dependence on Russia.
Following this visit, HH the Amir visited Germany in May 2022, and an agreement was signed to establish a partnership in the energy sector, in order to supply Germany with LNG starting in 2026, which further consolidated relations between the two countries.
The visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Doha in September 2022, followed by the visit of Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in May 2023 also contributed to pushing forward relations between the two countries again, as Qatar became the subject of widespread praise from German officials, as well as the German media as a result of Doha’s distinguished mediation efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region, which ultimately led to the signing of a memorandum of understanding to launch a "strategic dialogue" between the two countries. (QNA)
