Doha/New Delhi, Jan 1 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who began his diplomatic engagements in the New Year with a visit to Qatar, met the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in Doha today.
In a post on X, the EAM said the two sides held a productive review of their bilateral cooperation and also discussed the regional and global developments.
“Delighted to meet PM and FM @MBA_AlThani_ in Doha today. My first diplomatic engagement in 2025.
“A productive review of our bilateral cooperation. Also a wide-ranging discussion on recent regional and global developments.”
The EAM, who travelled to Qatar after a six-day visit to the US, had visited Doha less than a month ago for the Doha Forum.
On the sidelines of the Doha Forum, he had held talks with Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Faisal bin Thani Al Thani, and Minister of State, Ahmed Al Sayed.
Earlier in 2024, Qatar and India held the fifth round of Foreign Office Consultations, where the two sides reviewed aspects of their bilateral relationship, ranging from trade, investment to energy ties.
In September 2024, Jaishankar held talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed in Saudi Arabia to discuss strengthening the bilateral relations.
In February last year, Qatar freed eight former Indian naval officers who had previously been sentenced to death on espionage charges.
Qatar is a strong trade partner of India. Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at $14.08 billion in 2023-24.
