HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, accompanied by Cuban President Raul Castro, inspects a guard of honour upon his arrival at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana yesterday.
QNA/Havana
Qatar and Cuba signed an agreement and a memorandum of understanding yesterday following official talks chaired by HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Cuban President Raul Castro at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana.
The Cuban president expressed his pleasure at the Emir’s visit, which he said will boost relations between Qatar and Cuba.
The Emir expressed his pleasure at visiting Cuba and thanked the Cuban president for the warm reception and hospitality accorded to him and his accompanying delegation and said he was looking forward to more co-operation between Qatar and Cuba for the benefit of both countries and peoples.
The two sides discussed ways of strengthening and developing bilateral relations in various fields, particularly in economy, trade, investment and health. They also exchanged views on a number of current issues on the regional and international arenas, particularly the latest developments in the Middle East.
The talks session was attended by the members of the official delegation accompanying the Emir and Cuban ministers and senior officials.
Following the official talks, the Emir and the Cuban president witnessed the signing of an agreement between the governments of Qatar and Cuba on visa waiver for holders of diplomatic and special passports, and a memorandum of understanding between Qatar Investment Authority and the Cuba’s Ministry of Trade and Foreign Investment on co-operation in the investment field.
Later the Emir attended a luncheon banquet hosted by President Raul Castro at the Palace of the Revolution.
From the Cuban side, the banquet was attended by a number of ministers and senior officials.
The Emir was accorded an official reception ceremony upon arrival at the Palace of the Revolution.
Earlier, on his arrival at Havana’s Jose Marti Airport on a two-day visit, the Emir was greeted by Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Rogelio Sierra and Qatar’s ambassador to Cuba Rashid Mirza al-Mulla along with a number of heads of Arab diplomatic missions accredited to Cuba and staff members of Qatar embassy.
