Qatar, UK launch strategic dialogue to deepen ties

Qatar and the United Kingdom on Monday agreed to further enhance cooperation in several fields as they launched the Qatar-UK Strategic Dialogue in London.

Meeting is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly.

The ministers who met from both sides "affirmed that the Qatar-UK relationship has maintained a positive trajectory and committed to further strengthening" this partnership, the statement said.

Both ministers committed to increase cooperation on a range of joint priorities from further support for de-escalation and peace in the Middle East, earthquake relief to Turkey and Syria, Ukraine, and Horn of Africa to action on global challenges.

As leading economies both agreed to work closer on unwavering support for de-escalation and peace as well as cooperation on global challenges.

Both foreign ministers made clear their steadfast support for the Middle East Peace Process based on a Two State Solution, based on 1967 lines and reaffirmed their strong support for the historic Status Quo governing Jerusalem’s holy sites.

Qatar and the UK also highlighted their efforts with all sides to revive the 2015 Iranian Nuclear Deal.

They expressed concern at attacks or measures designed to escalate tension in the Gulf region and called for restraint on all sides. Addressing Afghanistan there was agreement on ongoing humanitarian aid without discrimination.

Both sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding for the Qatar-UK Strategic Dialogue on Monday. The MoU agreed on areas of partnership across bilateral trade, investment; defence, security, and counterterrorism; foreign policy, climate change and energy, humanitarian and development assistance cooperation, global cooperation in conflict management, health, education, and culture.