Prime Minister during a dialogue session in Singapore:
Qatar is guided by a leader who is known around the world for his ambition
The determination of our leadership and our people strengthened our ability to withstand adversity
Investing in our people has shown resilience in the face of regional tensions
Qatar is an active member in various international initiatives
We have established a state-of-the-art airline, airport and seaport
The World Cup gave us an opportunity to build sustainable infrastructure and great economic growth
1:19 am, Saturday, August 26, 2023
Singapore – Qena:
His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated yesterday evening with Sir John Chipman, Director General and CEO of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), in a panel discussion entitled: “Small States and Strategies for Success in a Competitive World At the Raffles Hotel in the capital, Singapore.
The panel discussion was attended by Their Excellencies members of the official delegation accompanying His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. It was also attended by a number of Their Excellencies ministers, businessmen, international academics and senior officials from the Singaporean side.
During the session, His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered the first lecture of the “Raffles Lectures” series organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, in which he touched on the vision of the State of Qatar on the challenges facing small and medium countries, and ways to enhance and develop security cooperation in order to achieve comprehensive security. And sustainable, especially in the security, defence, political, economic and investment fields, innovative ways of using modern technology, environmental sustainability and collective action, in addition to promoting peaceful solutions and diplomatic initiatives to resolve various conflicts and wars in the region and the world.
At the beginning of his speech, His Excellency spoke about the relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Singapore, pointing out that the two countries have a lot in common, stressing that “small countries have a big role to play.”
His Excellency pointed out that we are witnessing in the world, which has undergone great transformations in the past few years, the emergence of several centers of influence, each of which possesses its own political, economic and technological strength, adding: The new conflicts and major confrontations between the blocs of the superpowers expose the international system to a real danger, and that these Interconnected threats affecting billions of our people, pointing to the war in Ukraine that has shaken global energy markets and led to widespread food insecurity, political instability in Africa, and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, leading to repercussions on the global supply chain and on international trade “We are all concerned about this rivalry, especially in this region,” he said.
His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs added: “I am often asked how Qatar, as a small country, managed to achieve a balance between international players,” indicating that “Qatar believes in the interdependence and interdependence of the international community, and this conviction enables us to establish a strong trade partnership with China, while preserving strategic alliance with the United States.
Small states are able to play a decisive role in resolving international disputes
Qatar is a regional center for pluralism by opening many international offices
Qatar is a major mediator of the Iran-US agreement in the prisoner exchange deal
He continued, “In the same year that we were classified as an ally of the United States as a non-member of NATO, we also signed three new energy agreements with China.”
His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani explained, “Our ability to manage our relations with China and the United States is based on our ability to adapt, engage diplomatically, and pursue mutually beneficial interests. This not only serves the national interests of Qatar, but also contributes to regional stability.” and global as well.
His Excellency pointed out that the numerous conflicts that we are witnessing in all regions can tempt small countries to adopt conviction and believe that they have no role to play just because of their small size. Conflict Resolution.
His Excellency believed that small countries are often more affected by geostrategic competition, rising tensions, and economic insecurity, so we must be flexible and participate positively whenever and wherever possible.
His Excellency added: “The leaders of small countries must be ready to face these challenges, not as passive spectators, but as active and active participants in building peace and stability, as facilitators of dialogue, and as wise mediators in global conflicts,” stressing that the success of the State of Qatar in these participations comes from By focusing on three main areas: building multilateral alliances, facilitating access to peace, and investing in economic growth for future generations.
His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs stated, “For Qatar, being a small country located in a turbulent region, building multilateral alliances is essential.. Attempting to preserve and enable multilateral frameworks, and adopting and advocating fully a rules-based international order, is at the heart of Our foreign policy,” pointing out that the State of Qatar has effectively maintained cooperation with regional and international bodies, and has been and continues to be an active member in various international initiatives.
His Excellency continued: “Last year, we signed the document of accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia ( TAC ), based on our common will to create a safe and stable region to promote sustainable economic development,” stressing that “our relations with the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ASEAN) is of paramount importance to us, and we are keen to continue strengthening our relations with it and with the Asian continent in general.
In his lecture, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, noted that Qatar has also become a regional center for pluralism through the opening of several United Nations offices in Doha, referring to the opening of the “United Nations House” last March. , which includes 12 offices of the international organization.
His Excellency indicated that the State of Qatar also focuses on the process of enhancing access to peace to enhance international peace and security, and this has been one of the main pillars of its foreign policy for more than 25 years, adding: “Being a small country, like Singapore, gives us many advantages in moving Diplomacy and building relationships and networks with everyone.. Small countries can open reliable channels of communication between countries, which may constitute an opportunity to strengthen strategic partnerships with major powers in the international community, and lead to a cease-fire, building dialogues and promoting peace and security.
His Excellency continued, “We reached an agreement with Iran between it and the United States, to become a major mediator in the recent prisoner exchange deal, and to open a financial channel that will help resolve long-standing issues, a step we hope will lead to greater understandings on Iran’s nuclear issue.”
And His Excellency continued: Before that, and in August 2021, we succeeded in mediating between the Taliban and the United States, which led to an end to the war that had raged for more than two decades, and Qatar played a key role in one of the largest humanitarian air bridge operations in history, as it It has successfully evacuated more than 80,000 people across Qatar.
His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs also saw that “the future of our countries depends on the capabilities and capabilities of future generations, and with regard to Qatar, the past decade has taught us very important lessons that inspired us to develop a concrete plan, in which we balance risks and gains, that takes into account the current requirements and the future needs of future generations. It was necessary for us to ensure that we build a lasting and continuous legacy, and that we pass our wealth on to our future generations,” adding: “We are a young country, guided by a leader who is known throughout the world for his ambition and aspiration to the future.”
His Excellency continued: “Using the wealth that God bestowed on us, we invested in our country and our people, we invested in education and infrastructure, and we established a state-of-the-art airline, airport and seaport, while we became experts in logistics, technology and professional services, and we also established the Qatar Investment Authority that plans To invest in the future of Qatar through diversified projects spanning major global markets, sectors and geographies.”
His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani also referred to the establishment of the regional center for the Qatar Investment Authority here in Singapore, adding: “We currently have investments in Singapore in the real estate, sports and healthcare sectors, and we look forward to exploring potential investments in more sectors ».
His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the economic model of the State of Qatar has proven successful by helping us to host one of the largest sporting events in the world, namely the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, saying: “Qatar’s successful organization of the World Cup was a great achievement for the State of Qatar . Small, the tournament not only gave us an opportunity to build sustainable infrastructure and great economic growth, but also presented the Qatari, Arab and Islamic culture, and the region as a whole, to change prevailing stereotypes.
His Excellency stressed that our mission now is to become a vital global hub, as he said: “As a transit hub, Qatar is located at the gateway between East and West, providing unparalleled access to markets, and is a link between billions of people across more than 25 economies: 80% of the world’s population lives within a 6-hour flight from Qatar, and it takes only 18 days for ships from Qatar to reach Asia, Europe and the United States.
His Excellency highlighted that Qatar enjoys a strategic location to connect individuals and companies physically and digitally from all over the world, indicating that the energy sector in Qatar today continues to expand, with the emergence of many investment opportunities for local and foreign investors in the field of oil and gas, where he said in this context: «The The energy industry unleashed our best technological and logistical capabilities, and in the coming years, we will do the same in the healthcare and innovation industries.”
In his lecture, His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that Qatar has a clear long-term vision for the industries that will continue to form the backbone of its local economy, and this is what guides our vision for our country, as well as our investments in selected industries around the world, such as those here in Singapore.
His Excellency added: “Similarly, Singapore has achieved great economic success to become a global financial center, known for its exceptional financial infrastructure and regulatory stability..Singapore’s role as a bridge between eastern and western markets, along with its interest in technological advancement, provides an important model for all small countries, and it must To keep investing in education, health care and social welfare in small countries at the forefront of our priorities.
His Excellency stressed that providing opportunities for Qatari citizens by providing them with knowledge and skills prepares them to contribute meaningfully on the global stage, while ensuring a solid social foundation for progress, saying: “It is this investment in our people that has allowed Qatar to show remarkable resilience in the face of regional tensions and the global pandemic. Qatar’s leadership and people have shown unwavering resolve to maintain stability, diversify our trade routes, boost local industries and enhance our resilience.”
His Excellency pointed out that “for a long time, we used to view small countries as states limited in their size, but today, by looking at the successful examples of small countries, such as Qatar and Singapore, we can see how countries can use the tools and strategies available to them to become successful and active parties in The international community”.
His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, concluded his speech with the lecture, that history has proven that achieving positive results is not hindered by size. Through planning, strengthening global partnerships and nurturing our latent strengths, not only small countries will succeed, it will also be inspiring others to do the same.
