By Anwar Elshamy
Qatar-Saudi ties are expected to get a “further major boost” with the two countries getting ready to sign a number of agreements for enhancing co-operation during the Qatari-Saudi Co-ordinating Council’s second round, scheduled to be held in Doha by the end of this year, it was announced yesterday.
Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a preparatory meeting which brought together high-level officials from the two countries, HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud said that the meeting proved “fruitful” in providing a framework for developing the ties between the two states.
“Our relations with Saudi Arabia are deeply rooted in history and we only seek to build on it. We have agreed on ways to develop relations in all fields including diplomatic, trade and investment. I cannot say that there was a topic which we did not discuss,” al-Mahmoud said.
The Qatari-Saudi Co-ordinating Council, which is chaired by HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani from the Qatari side, and by the Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, held its first round last year in  Riyadh.
HE Mosaed bin Mohamed al-Aiban, a Saudi minister of state and a cabinet member, who led the Saudi side in the joint meeting, stressed that “there was no single point of difference faced by the delegates during the meeting, saying that there was a clear political will to build on the realised progress.  
“This meeting was a continuation of the first round of the joint council between the two countries which met in Riyadh last year. What has been achieved by the council during its first year augurs well for the future of the bilateral ties,” al-Aiban said.
The meeting was attended by HE the Minster of State for International Co-operation and Acting minister of Business and Trade Dr Khalid al-Attiyah, HE  the Minister of State for Energy and Industry Affairs, Dr Mohamed Saleh al-Sada, among other senior Qatari and Saudi officials.
The two Gulf states reached a landmark agreement last year to demarcate their borders and agreed to enhance co-operation.