Embassy of India

Doha

PRESS RELEASE

Fourth Foreign Office Consultations with the State of Qatar

February 01, 2021

The fourth Foreign Office Consultations between India and Qatar were held virtually on February 1, 2021. The Indian side was led by Shri Sanjay Bhattacharyya, Secretary (CPV & OIA), Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi and the Qatari side was led by Dr. Ahmad Hassan Al-Hamadi, Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State of Qatar.

Both sides expressed satisfaction that despite the Covid-19 pandemic they have kept in close touch including the telephone conversations between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the Amir of Qatar and the visit of External Affairs Minister to Qatar in December 2020. These gave new momentum to bilateral relations. Secretary (CPV & OIA) thanked the Qatari side for taking care of the Indian community in Qatar during the pandemic.

The Foreign Office Consultations provided an opportunity to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including political, energy, trade, investments, defence, food security, health security, science and technology, consular, community and cultural issues. Both sides reiterated their commitment to working closely together in these areas and further discussing new areas of cooperation. The two sides also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest at the regional and multilateral levels, including cooperation at the UN and other international fora.

Both sides agreed to convene the first Joint Commission Meeting at Foreign Minister level at an early date.

New Delhi