PM Modi, Amir of Qatar hold talks, decide to elevate India-Q
PM Modi, Amir of Qatar hold talks, decide to elevate India-Qatar ties to 'strategic partnership'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday held wide-ranging talks with Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani as the two leaders decided to elevate India-Qatar relations
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim
Bin Hamad Al Thani at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, Tuesday, Feb.
18, 2025. (PTI Photo/Manvender Vashist Lav)
NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday held wide-ranging talks with
Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani as the two leaders decided to
elevate India-Qatar relations to a "strategic partnership" with focus
on trade, investments, technology, energy and people-to-people ties, further
cementing the "deep and traditional relationship" between the two
countries.
They also exchanged views on "regional and global
issues" of mutual interest, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
The Amir of Qatar's two-day visit comes at the invitation
of Modi. This is his second state visit to India. He earlier visited India in
March 2015.
His visit will provide "further momentum to our
growing multifaceted partnership", the MEA had said ahead of the visit
that began on Monday.
Earlier in the day, the Amir of Qatar was accorded a
ceremonial guard of honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan as President Droupadi
Murmu welcomed the visiting leader. Modi was also present on the occasion.
Later, Modi and the Amir held talks at the Hyderabad
House covering a range of bilateral issues.
India and Qatar on Tuesday also exchanged an agreement on
establishment of strategic partnership between the two countries.
The documents were exchanged between Prime Minister and
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim
Al Thani and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in the presence of Prime
Minister Modi and the Amir of Qatar here.
"India-Qatar, further cementing the deep &
traditional relationship. PM @narendramodi & HH Sheikh @TamimbinHamad
Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar held wide-ranging talks at Hyderabad House
today. Both leaders decided to elevate India-Qatar relations to a Strategic
Partnership with focus on trade, energy, investments, innovation, technology,
food security, culture & people-to-people ties. They also exchanged views
on regional and global issues of mutual interest," MEA Spokesperson
Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.
India and Qatar have deep-rooted historical ties of
friendship, trust and mutual respect. In recent years, the ties between the two
countries, including in the areas of trade, investment, energy, technology,
culture and people-to-people relations, have continued to strengthen, the MEA
earlier said.
As the two leaders held talks at the Hyderabad House, the
MEA in a post on X said, a "new milestone" was on the cards of this
"special India-Qatar partnership".
A revised agreement for avoidance of double taxation and
prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, between India and
Qatar, was also exchanged, it was announced during the exchange of agreements
ceremony held at the Hyderabad House.
Prime Minister of Qatar and Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman exchanged the agreement.
The Amir of Qatar arrived here on Monday evening, his
visit coming almost a year after Modi had visited the Gulf nation in February
2024.
Extending a rare gesture of hospitality, Modi received
the Amir at the Delhi airport on Monday evening. He welcomed him with a warm
handshake and hug, displaying the bonhomie between the two leaders.
"Went to the airport to welcome my brother, Amir of
Qatar H H Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani. Wishing him a fruitful stay in India
and looking forward to our meeting tomorrow," the prime minister said in a
post on X on Monday.
The Amir of Qatar will be accompanied by a high-level
delegation, including ministers, senior officials and business leaders, the MEA
earlier said.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar had called on the
Amir of Qatar, hours after his arrival in Delhi, and said he was confident that
the visiting leader's talks with Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday will
"deepen our close bonds of friendship".
During Prime Minister Modi's visit to Doha last year,
technology, investment, energy, trade, all aspects were discussed at length
with a view to look at them, assess them from a strategic perspective, the then
foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra had told reporters in February 2024.
"... the visit will set the stage, lay the basis for
a stronger, deeper, more extensive, wide-ranging partnership between India and
Qatar," he had said.
The MEA on Saturday said the Indian community residing in
Qatar forms the largest expatriate group in that country and is
"appreciated for its positive contribution in the progress and development
of Qatar".
