Doha: Qatari newspapers highlighted in their editorials Thursday the official visit of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the Kingdom of Norway, the second stop in HH’s European tour. They emphasized that the visit to Oslo and the bilateral meetings with Norwegian leaders gave a new boost to relations and added strong momentum, fulfilling the aspirations of the two friendly countries and their peoples.
The newspapers pointed out that following his visit to Norway, His Highness began a visit to the Republic of Finland, concluding his current tour in Northern Europe. The papers said that HE President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb welcomed HH the Amir’s visit, noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. They also noted the Finnish President’s affirmation that a close dialogue between the two countries is important, especially because of the security situation in Europe and the Middle East.
Al-Watan newspaper s
aid that relations between Qatar and Norway have spanned over 50 years and have seen steady growth, particularly in economic and commercial cooperation, as trade exchange between the two countries amounted to approximately QR 1.3 billion in 2023, reflecting a shared desire to develop and expand cooperation further.
The daily also noted what HH the Amir expressed during the session of official talks with HE Prime Minister of the friendly Kingdom of Norway Jonas Gahr Store at the Government Guest House in Oslo. His Highness stressed aspiration to work with the Prime Minister of Norway to advance bilateral cooperation to broader horizons in light of the diplomatic relations that have tied the two countries for more than 50 years and to enhance bilateral partnerships between the two countries across various fields.
Al-Watan concluded its editorial by highlighting the talks between HH the Amir and the Norwegian Prime Minister, which addressed areas of cooperation and ways to strengthen and develop them. They als
o discussed key regional and international developments, especially developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, noting that State Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Norway Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik affirmed Norway’s support for the State of Qatar’s significant efforts in peace, reconciliation, and mediation.
In turn, Al-Raya emphasized that Qatari-Norwegian relations have always been exemplary at all levels, serving as a model for fruitful cooperation between two allies, whether in the Gulf region or Northern Europe.
The paper explained in its editorial that Qatari-Norwegian relations are built on a rich history of successes, both bilaterally and in promoting peace, security, and global development in the region and the world.
The newspaper noted that the talks held by HH the Amir in Oslo were successful, as His Highness stressed his aspiration to work with the Prime Minister of Norway to advance bilateral cooperation to broader horizons in light of the diplomatic r
elations that have tied the two countries for more than 50 years and to enhance bilateral partnerships between the two countries across various fields.
Additionally, the talks provided an opportunity to address key regional and international issues of mutual concern, especially the latest developments in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories, the paper said, stressing that Qatar plays a significant positive role in peace-building efforts both in Palestine and other important issues in the Middle East and the world.
In conclusion, Al-Raya underlined that Qatar has always valued Norway’s efforts in mediation, diplomatic solutions, and its unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, including its recent formal recognition of the State of Palestine an important step toward lifting the historical injustice faced by the Palestinian people. Furthermore, the visit was an opportunity to deepen Qatari-Norwegian cooperation through the signing of two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and additional clauses i
n the fields of avoiding double taxation and preventing fiscal evasion between the two countries.
Source: Qatar News Agency