MOSCOW, May 6 (RIA Novosti) – Qatar intends to increase economic and political cooperation with Russia, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on its website following a visit by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov to the country’s capital.
During his visit, Bogdanov met with the leaders of Qatar, including Emir Hamad bin Tamim Al Thani, Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani and Foreign Minister Khalid Al Attiyah.
"The Emir of Qatar praised the compelling and consistent policy of the Russian Federation in international and regional affairs. The Emir stressed that Doha views Russia as an important and long-term political and economic partner, and is determined to build bilateral relations in various fields," according to the statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
"At the same time, emphasis was put on the need to accelerate the establishment of coordination within the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), as well as on the increase in investment cooperation. The parties also stressed the importance of the early launch of the Russian-Qatari intergovernmental commission for trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation," the statement said.
The next GECF summit of the world’s leading gas exporters will be held this year in Doha.
The forum was founded in 2001 in Tehran and legally established December 23, 2008 in Moscow, where the energy ministers of the participating countries adopted the Charter of the GECF and signed an intergovernmental agreement.
The GECF forum is composed of Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Iran, Qatar, Libya, Nigeria, Russia, Equatorial Guinea, and Trinidad and Tobago. The Netherlands, Norway and Kazakhstan participate in the forum as observers.
