Amir starts tour of Latin American countries; New bilateral pacts to be signed in vital fields

*Amir arrives in Quito; To visit Peru, Paraguay and Argentina also*A joint high-level ministerial committee to be set up for economic, commercial, investment and technical cooperation, says Ecuador's FM*The ministerial committee will coordinate specific programmes and initiatives to achieve common objectives in a number of areas such as agriculture, public health, culture, environment, nature protection and sports: Amores

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani arrived yesterday evening in Quito, on a two-day state visit to the Republic of Ecuador.

The Amir was greeted upon arrival at Mariscal Sucre Presidential Airport by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of Ecuador Jose Valencia, Ambassador of Qatar to Ecuador Mohammed Ali al-Malki, Ambassador of Ecuador to Qatar Yvonne Laila Khoies Aboul Baki, and members of the Qatari Embassy in Quito.His Highness the Amir is is accompanied by an official delegation.In a tweet, His Highness the Amir said he has started a tour of Latin American countries to strengthen bilateral cooperation with several countries."Today I have started a tour in Latin America to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay and Argentina, preceded by two tours in 2015 and 2016."New partnership agreements will be signed in vital fields for the interests of our countries," the post said. 

The Amir's visit to Ecuador is an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two countries and peoples, the Foreign Minister of Ecuador Jose Valencia Amores has said.The Ecuadorian minister said that talks between the leaders of the two countries will draw a renewable road map for relations during the coming years.In an interview with a local Arabic daily , the Ecuadorian Minister said Qatar and Ecuador have the same determination to set an ambitious agenda that focus on economic and cultural cooperation, and on increasing bilateral investment and trade.Amores pointed out that during His Highness the Amir's visit to Quito, a joint high-level ministerial committee will be set up for economic, commercial, investment and technical cooperation, adding that the ministerial committee will coordinate specific programmes and initiatives to achieve the common objectives in a number of areas such as agriculture, public health, culture, environment, nature protection and sports.Ecuador's Foreign Minister expressed his countrytarget="_blank"'>The Foreign Minister of Ecuador said his country has a lot of motivation to work towards strengthening relations with Arab countries, expressing his aspiration to support Arab-Latin relations in the coming years.