NICOSIA: His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and President of the Republic of Cyprus HE Nikos Christodoulides held a session of official talks at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia on Tuesday.

At the outset of the session, the President of the Republic of Cyprus welcomed His Highness the Amir and the accompanying delegation, stressing the significance of His Highness the Amir's first visit to Cyprus and its role in bolstering the bilateral relations, looking forward to working with His Highness to develop mutual cooperation and push relations to higher levels.

For his part, His Highness the Amir expressed his thanks to the President of Cyprus for his invitation to visit the Republic of Cyprus and for the warm reception and hospitality with which His Highness and the accompanying delegation were accorded, hoping that this visit will contribute to strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various fields, in a way that benefits the two countries and their friendly people.

During the session, they discussed aspects of cooperation and ways to develop them in all fields, especially in energy, industry and investment. The session also discussed overall events and developments on the regional and international arenas of common concern, especially the situation in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.

The session was attended by Chief of the Amiri Diwan HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Minister of Transport HE Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, Minister of State for Energy Affairs HE Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi, Minister of Commerce and Industry HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Thani, Minister of Culture HE Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, and members of the official delegation accompanying His Highness the Amir.

On the Cypriot side, it was attended by Minister of Finance HE Makis Keravnos, Minister of Transport, Communications and Works HE Alexis Vafeades, Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry HE George Papanastasiou, Deputy Minister for European Affairs HE Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister to the President HE Irene Piki, and Deputy Minister of CultureHE Dr Vasiliki Kassianidou, and a number of senior officials.

His Highness the Amir and the President of Cyprus held earlier a bilateral meeting and discussed the overall cooperation between the two friendly countries, in addition to discussing a number of issues of mutual interest.

The President of Cyprus hosted a luncheon banquet in honour of His Highness the Amir and the accompanying delegation.His Highness the Amir was accorded an official reception ceremony upon arrival at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia.