Qatar, Belgium, sign, deals, to ,boost, ties,

Brussels: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met yesterday with H M King Philippe of Belgium at the Royal Palace of Brussels.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed bilateral relations and exchanged views on a number of topics of mutual interest.

H H the Emir and his accompanying delegation holding official talks with Prime Minister of Belgium, Charles Michel, and other dignitaries from the Belgian side.    

H H the Emir and the King of Belgium met with a number of businessmen, investors and chairpersons of major firms in Qatar and Belgium who are taking part in the Qatari-Belgian Business Forum, organised by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce and Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry in cooperation with the Belgian company union, during a reception ceremony that was held for that occasion at the union’s premises in Brussels.

H H the Emir and the King of Belgium exchanged views with a number of participant businessmen on opportunities of enhancing economic cooperation, trade exchange and investment between the two friendly countries.

H H the Emir also attended a luncheon banquet hosted by the  King of Belgium in honour of H H the Emir and the accompanying delegation at the Royal Palace of Brussels.

Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister of Belgium, Charles Michel, also held a round of official talks at the Cabinet’s headquarters at Egmont Palace in the capital, Brussels.

At the outset of the session, the Prime Minister of Belgium welcomed H H the Emir and the official delegation, expressing his delight at the visit of H H the Emir to Belgium, which will enhance bilateral relations. H H the Emir expressed his thanks for being invited to visit Belgium, which will help in developing bilateral relations in the different fields.

The session discussed means of boosting mutual cooperation in the fields of energy, economy, investment, culture, sport and health. H H the Emir and the Prime Minister exchanged views on regional and international developments, particularly the current challenges in the Middle East and Europe, notably the phenomenon of terrorism and means of combating and uprooting it as well as eliminating its sources of financing.

An official reception ceremony was held for H H the Emir upon his arrival at the Cabinet’s headquarters. H H the Emir and the Belgian Prime Minister also witnessed the signing of two cooperation agreements including an air services agreement that facilitates the operation of commercial flights between the two countries. The agreement includes granting the rights to designated carriers to operate from and to the two countries, aviation security, and other articles that facilitate the operation between the two parties for carriers.

H H the Emir and the Prime Minister also witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between Qatar University and the University of Hasselt in the Kingdom of Belgium, aimed at strengthening academic and research cooperation and exchanging experiences and visits between researchers, students and faculty members.

The banquet, talks session and the signing ceremony were also attended by Their Excellencies members of the official accompanying delegation  and a number of Ministers and senior officials from the Belgian side.

H H the Emir also met with President of the Senate of Belgium, Christine Defraigne, and  the Speaker the House of Representatives, Jifred Prabki, as well as  a number of members of the Belgian Parliament. They reviewed a number of issues of mutual interest, especially the prospects for cooperation between the two countries, in addition to the latest regional and international developments.

Upon arrival at the parliament premises, H H the Emir toured the building accompanied by the President of  Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, where the Emir was briefed about the history of the parliament premises and the legislative and supervisory functions of the two councils and their rules of procedure.  H H the Emir was accompanied by Their Excellencies members of the official delegation.