The State of Qatar and the United States of America signed a twinning agreement between the cities of Doha and Charleston in South Carolina in the context of deepening the Qatari-US strategic partnership in all fields and enhancing relations between the Qatari and American peoples.
The agreement was signed by HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the United States Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al-Thani and Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg.
The agreement aims to strengthen mutual cooperation, explore opportunities for future partnership between the two sides, including cooperation in the field of trade and culture, and discuss the possibility of hosting a trade delegation representing the city of Charleston to visit Doha and to see the investment opportunities offered by the city.
In a speech at the signing ceremony, HE Qatar's ambassador Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al-Thani said that the twinning agreement reflects the sincere desire of both sides to increase understanding and coexistence between the Qatari and American peoples at all levels.
HE Sheikh Meshal stressed that the relations between Qatar and the United States are strong and go back decades, and that they are not limited to the military and security aspects, but extend even further to the development of bilateral trade and investment, as well as educational and cultural cooperation.
HE the ambassador also touched upon the cooperation between the two sides, noting that in addition to six universities, Qatar hosts the largest US military base in the Middle East, in addition to the more than 650 American companies which choose Doha as a destination for their investments.
HE Sheikh Meshal noted Qatar's commitment to invest $45 billion in the US economy by 2020, in key sectors such as infrastructure, technology and real estate. These investments have contributed to the creation of thousands of jobs across the country.
The State of Qatar's decision to sign the twinning agreement with Charleston stems from the full conviction that the cities of Doha and Charleston have many things in common that will contribute to the promotion of economic and cultural cooperation, to enable their citizens to live in an environment that leads to innovation, entrepreneurship, tolerance and intercultural dialogue, HE the ambassador said.
HE Sheikh Meshal added that Doha seeks to follow the example of Charleston, one of the most important American tourist cities, in establishing itself as a global tourist destination in the future by attracting 5 million tourists by 2023, and 7 million by 2030, noting that through working together, the State of Qatar can achieve this goal.
In the conclusion of his speech, HE the ambassador stressed that the State of Qatar has embarked in the last two decades, and based on its true determination to build an open, flexible, forward-looking, tolerant and inclusive society, sponsoring a number of exchange programs aimed at promoting understanding between peoples of different cultures, religions and races. 
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