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QNA
Buenos Aires
THE Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani arrived in the capital of Buenos Aires on a state visit to the Republic of Argentina on Thursday.
HH the Amir was welcomed upon arrival at MinistroPistarini (Ezeiza) International Airport by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Argentine Republic Jorge Faure, Qatar's Ambassador to Argentina HE Fahad bin Ibrahim al Mana and members of the Qatari Embassy.
Talks between HH the Amir and President Mauricio Macri are expected to focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation in various fields, especially in the economic, trade, food and investment sectors. The talks are also expected to cover a number of issues of joint interest that are taking place in the international arena.
Qatar and the Argentine Republic are associated with growing and distinct relations of friendship and cooperation, dating back to the mid-1970s, when the two sides signed a joint statement in 1974 between Doha and Buenos Aires in New York, establishing diplomatic relations between them. Bilateral relations developed significantly between the two countries, especially after the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding for the exchange of diplomatic missions in February, 1994. This was reflected in the first visit of the Father Amir HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani to Argentina in 2010. The diplomatic ties led to establishing diplomatic ties with the Argentine government inaugurating its embassy in Doha in 2012. Qatar opened its embassy in Buenos Aires in 2013.
In May last year, as well as May of this year, two rounds of political consultations were held between the ministers of foreign affairs of Qatar and Argentina in Doha and Buenos Aires respectively. The consultations focused on bilateral relations between the two friendly countries in various fields, as well as discussing a number of issues and topics of joint interest.
In the framework of mutual visits between the two countries, HH the Amir visited the Argentine Republic in July, 2016. The visit contributed to radical changes that strengthened political relations between the two countries. The Vice President of Argentina Gabriela Michetti visited Doha in November, 2016. Former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez also visited Doha in January, 2011, followed by other official visits to Doha by senior officials of the Argentine government.
The two countries have a number of agreements for the development and implementation of energy, cultural and scientific cooperation projects; cooperation in economic, commercial and technical fields; and cooperation in air transportand sports.
In 2014, a Joint Ministerial Committee was established as stipulated in the agreement on economic, commercial and technical cooperation signed between the two countries on January, 18 of 2010 in Buenos Aires. The committee,which came into force in 2016, will hold its meetings every two years.
Qatar Petroleum (QP) signed in June a deal with ExxonMobil to acquire a 30 percent stake in two of Exxon's affiliates in Argentina. These two affiliates hold different interests in hydrocarbon licences for seven blocks in the VacaMuerta play in the onshore Neuquen basin in Argentina.
HH the Amir's current and previous tours of the South American continent underscore the importance of the continent and its countries. It provides great economic and commercial opportunities for Qatar to expand its foreign investments and diversify its food and industrial resources.
