Singapore envoy: We have strong relations with Qatar, aspire to develop them in all fields

Singapore's ambassador in Doha Jai Sohan Singh has praised the strong relations between his country and Qatar, expressing the two countries' aspiration to develop and strengthen them in various fields.
In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), the ambassador described the current state visit by Singaporean President Halimah Yacob to Qatar as very important, and it represents an important milestone in the relationship between the two countries over the past four decades, noting His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani's visit to Singapore in October 2017 as the first head of state to visit the country after Halimah was sworn in as president in September of the same year.
Under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir, the Qatari-Singaporean relations have grown and flourished, becoming strong and robust, he said, pointing out that Singapore is the only country with which Qatar has a Joint High-Level Committee, serving as an institutional platform that guides the bilateral relationship between the two nations.
The ambassador expressed his country's aspiration to welcome HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani to co-chair the upcoming round of meetings of the Joint High-Level Committee between the two countries that will be held later this year, affirming that both countries continuously seek to share interests and challenges, striving to be active, responsible, and constructive members of the international community.
He noted that both Singapore and Qatar are proponents of a multilateral, open and rules-based trading system, outlining that the Republic of Singapore was the first country to sign a free trade agreement with the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), in recognition of the immense economic potential of GCC states as it considers Qatar a vital source of energy, aviation, logistical services and a vital sports hub.
Concluding his statement, ambassador Singh expressed his full confidence that the president's visit will enhance the close relations between the two countries and their peoples, particularly in the economic aspect.