The US embassy in Doha hosted its National Day celebration, its biggest event of the year, on Tuesday evening.
US chargé d’affaires William Grant welcomed the guests of honour, HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie, HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim bin Saif Ahmed al-Sulaiti and ambassador Ibrahim Yousef Fakhro, director of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
More than 1,000 Qatari officials, foreign dignitaries, American citizens and leaders from business, academia and civil society gathered to celebrate the United States’ independence.
Grant’s speech highlighted the strength of the US-Qatar partnership and the values that propel the two countries forward, regardless of whatever challenges they may face – innovation, integrity and an entrepreneurial mindset, the US embassy said in a statement.
A moment from the US National Day celebration.
“We enjoy working with Qatar because we see so many values we prize – tolerance of people with different religions and backgrounds, a constant drive to improve and focus on the future. Both America and Qatar understand that through diversity and openness to others there is strength. There is progress. There is resilience,” he said.
Grant noted that, after more than 45 years of friendship and partnership, the US embassy continues to build bridges between Qataris and Americans across disciplines. More than 500 Qataris have visited the US on its world-renowned International Visitor Leadership Programme, including programmes this year on disaster preparedness, women in civil society and combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
The embassy’s Discover America Week in late-2018 brought more than 150 American and Qatari companies together to promote trade, travel and the arts. Also, joint military exercises like the recent Invincible Sentry are helping enable a secure environment for World Cup 2022 and beyond.
Grant pointed to the success of the US-Qatar Strategic Dialogue in Doha, which covered trade and investment, education and culture, energy co-operation, labour rights, regional security and defence co-operation, and law enforcement and counter-terrorism.
During the Dialogue, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani signed agreements covering education, the first bilateral agreement in cultural cooperation, and expansion and upgrades at Al-Udeid Air Base. The US is the largest source of imports to Qatar as well as one of the largest investors in Qatar's energy sector.
Grant also noted, “It has been an impressive year for Qatar,” referring to accomplishments like new labour reforms to protect the millions of foreigners who live and work here, opening the spectacular new National Museum of Qatar and the exciting victory by Al Anabi in the AFC Asian Cup."
To learn more about the US National Day celebration and other US embassy activities, one can follow them on Facebook @USEmbassyQatar, Twitter @USEmbassyQatar and @USAmbQatar, and Instagram @USAinQatar.