Qatar’s ambassador in Caracas Rashid bin Mohsen Fetais has affirmed that the relations between Qatar and Venezuela are distinguished as the two countries are keen to constantly strengthen and develop them.
In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), the ambassador said that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s visit to Doha came as a culmination of the relations between Doha and Caracas, which officially began on May 24, 1973, when the two countries agreed to establish diplomatic relations at resident ambassadors level, and sought to establish a friendship and co-operation between them in all fields, including trade, economy and investment in the field of oil and gas.
He underlined that Qatar-Venezuela relations witnessed a great development thanks to the keenness of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and President Nicolas Maduro to deepen and strengthen them, noting that now these relations are greatly developed and are characterised by credibility and transparency.
The ambassador pointed out that there are 20 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoU) between Qatar and Venezuela, covering various sectors such as air transport, double tax avoidance, visa-free entry and political consultations, in addition to the judicial, financial, customs, tourism and agricultural fields.
The two countries, since the beginning of their diplomatic relations, have been able to follow the path of co-operation, dialogue and mutual respect between the two peoples, who share foundations that allowed them to pave a common path based on their determination to build a just world order, which includes the principles of mutual understanding and dialogue as a goal to achieve peace, the ambassador said.
He underscored the convergence of views between the two countries on a number of regional and international issues, such as defending the multilateral system represented by the United Nations, contributing to efforts to consolidate the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries, and calling for the need to strengthen South-South co-operation.
The two countries also continue to defend the principles of pluralism by monitoring the application of the foundations of international law, non-interference in the internal affairs of states, and equality in the sovereignty of states and the right of peoples to determine their own destiny.
The ambassador said that Venezuela has now entered the stage of economic recovery and overcoming recession, and has many investment opportunities in all sectors, especially after the US eased the sanctions that it had imposed on it, allowed oil company Chevron Corp to resume work in the country, and allowed Italy’s oil company Eni and Spain’s Repsol to ship Venezuelan oil to Europe to make up for shortfalls caused by the war in Ukraine.