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The Qatar-US cultural and educational cooperation has been the epitome of the core pillars of the strategic partnership between the two nations for decades. Throughout recent years, this partnership has increasingly thrived in multiple educational, academic, research, and cultural fields, the Cultural Attache at the Embassy of the State of Qatar to the United States, Nasser Mohammed Al Nuaimi, told Qatar News Agency (QNA). Al Nuaimi added that the US is one of the key global partners of the State of Qatar in the academic domain, with universities among the most advanced globally, including four among the world's top ten. This makes cooperation with them an imperative for realizing Qatar's aspirations to build a modern educational system that keeps up with global standards. The State of Qatar aspires to forge long-term partnerships with those institutions, which would benefit both Qatari students and American universities through sharing expertise, setting top-notch educational curricula, and launching training programs that hone the alumni' skills, he highlighted. Al Nuaimi further explained that the State of Qatar is working to boost these partnerships through its various institutions, foremost among them being the Qatar Leadership Centre, which positions itself as a quintessential model for collaboration with American academic institutions in the areas that advance leadership and build research capabilities. These efforts are diligently ongoing, in parallel with energized efforts to increase the number of Qatari scholarship students in US universities throughout the years ahead, through holding coordination meetings with US university administrations to explore their enrollment opportunities in a variety of disciplines, he outlined. He averred that bilateral cultural cooperation is embodied in outstanding initiatives under the superintendence of the Ministry of Culture and Qatar Museums, alongside US institutions, particularly Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), noting the annual technical exhibition VCU organizes to showcase the artworks of artists and students from VCU's branch campus in Doha for a broader US audience, which literally positions itself as a cultural bridge between the two communities. Al Nuaimi delved into the foremost educational projects currently ongoing, noting the existing cooperation between Qatar University (QU) and several US universities to implement joint student projects. He emphasized that Qatari and US students are working together on research and academic tasks, which are assessed as part of their educational curricula. The Ministry of Education and Higher Education regularly participates in prestigious academic conferences such as the NAFSA Annual Conference and Expo and the Washington Higher Education Council, which promote Qatar's presence in the academic and global arenas, he highlighted. Al Nuaimi stressed that Qatari cultural diplomacy represents a significant contributor to promoting dialogue among peoples, given the state of play in the region and the world, noting that the domains of education and culture offer broader opportunities to forge acquaintances and make overtures. He added that they contribute to pitching the Qatari mores in a framework of shared appreciation. The Qatari educational missions in the US would project an honored image of the Qatari and Islamic identity if this identity were correctly and systematically pitched, he underlined.Al Nuaimi further outlined that the Attache performs a significant role and operates to provide all kinds of support for scholarship students, in terms of the academic, social, or psychological levels, by helping them focus on their studies and accomplish the excellence that projects an honored image of their homeland.The Attache annually convenes students to regularly check on their situation, either via relaying monthly messages or by reaching out to them and the academic supervisors in US universities directly, to ensure that a supportive and integrated educational environment is in place, assured Al Nuaimi.Al Nuaimi averred that there are steadfast endeavors to enhance academic cooperation between Qatari universities and US ones as part of future plans, through creating practical training opportunities for students while they are on campus, in addition to connecting US universities with Qatari institutions that teach the Arabic language, namely QU and Qatar Foundation.These endeavors, he said, would contribute to broadening the apertures of cultural and academic cooperation, noting the preparation to host an international conference for higher education in Doha in collaboration with key US universities, something that would ultimately open new prospects for academic and research exchange.Finally, Al Nuaimi stressed that the State of Qatar considers investment in education and culture as investment in human capital, laying the groundwork for the national development path. He emphasized that academic and cultural partnerships with the US will remain a core pillar in supporting the Qatar National Vision and promoting its stature on the global stage.

The visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on Wednesday drew remarkable attention from various Jordanian media outlets, with extensive coverage of the visit featured on their pages, in their bulletins, and during their programs. Considered a strategic milestone, the visit affirms the strength of relations between the two countries and opens new horizons for bilateral cooperation in light of current regional developments. The Jordanian broadcast media closely followed the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the capital, Amman. They broadcast live the official reception ceremony upon His Highness's arrival at Marka Airport, where King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein welcomed him. The media emphasized the strategic importance of this visit, given that it comes after the Israeli attack on Doha. Jordan TV, Al Mamlaka TV, and Roya TV devoted extensive coverage to the welcome ceremonies and official meetings between the leaders of the two countries, and hosted numerous analysts in news bulletins and talk shows to discuss the visit and its anticipated outcomes. A Jordan TV report stated that Qatari-Jordanian relations have, for decades, been built on mutual trust and a shared vision. It added that on the political front, Jordan and Qatar have stood side by side on all issues facing the nation. From the Palestinian cause to supporting stability in the region, Amman and Doha have been united in their calls for a just peace, rejecting aggression and occupation, and affirming that Arab rights are not subject to lapse over time. In regional crises, the two countries have also played the role of wise mediators seeking solutions that preserve bloodshed and safeguard the stability of peoples. The report noted that this partnership extended beyond the realms of economics and politics to include cultural and humanitarian cooperation. The two countries supported educational initiatives and charitable projects, and jointly pursued plans that place people at the heart of development.It concluded that after decades of joint work, it can be said that Jordanian-Qatari relations have become a model to be emulated in the Arab world, a model based on mutual trust, a sincere desire to serve people, and a deep commitment to the values of Arab solidarity. In an interview with Jordan TV, former Jordanian Ambassador Ziad Al Majali emphasized the importance of relations with Qatar and stressed that the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the Kingdom is an opportunity to build new inter-Arab relations. Al Majali said that the Jordanian King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein and His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar see the current circumstances as a favorable opportunity to build new Arab relations, which Jordan has been working to establish for some time. He emphasized that the visit supports this goal despite the current political and security dimensions. Al Mamlaka TV reported that at the political level, the visit is of great importance at a sensitive time, as the region is witnessing rapid developments. It comes just two days after the Arab and Islamic summit held to discuss the Israeli attack on Qatar, and just days before King Abdullah II's participation in the UN General Assembly. For his part, Editor-in-Chief of Al Ghad newspaper Makram Al Tarawneh told Al Mamlaka TV that the timing of the visit, coming after the Arab and Islamic summit that was convened following the Israeli attack on Qatar, is extremely significant, as it reflects the extent of coordination between the Jordanian and Qatari sides during the complex circumstances facing the region.Al Tarawneh said economic issues were inevitably present in the discussions between the two sides, but political issues overshadowed those discussions, as they sought to coordinate common positions between Qatar and Jordan on how to support the Palestinian cause and confront Israel.In turn, Awni Al Daoud, an economic writer and analyst, praised the strength of economic and trade relations between Jordan and Qatar, stressing that Qatari investments in Jordan are distinguished in both quantity and quality.He said that economic and trade relations between the two countries have witnessed increasing growth rates in recent years. Therefore, the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani will pave the way for a new phase of economic relations between the two countries.He added that economic and trade relations reflect the depth of relations between countries. This was reflected in the volume of Qatari investments in Jordan, which has reached more than 4.5 billion Jordanian dinars in various sectors, including education, health, tourism, energy, electricity, and financial markets. Trade exchange between the two countries also increased by 5.6 percent in 2024 compared to previous levels.He pointed out that among the most significant leaps in economic relations between the two countries is that Qatari assistance to Jordan amounting to $500 million, directed toward specific development investments, and Qatar's pledge to employ thousands of Jordanians.He added that the private sector in the two countries is very active at the level of chambers of commerce and industry and relations between businessmen, pointing out that there are 50 direct Qatari investments in the real estate sector, and Qatari investments in the Amman Stock Exchange, representing approximately 2.5 percent of the stock exchange's total market capitalization. Meanwhile, exports from Jordan to Qatar during the past six months alone reached 58 million Jordanian dinars, while imports amounted to approximately 60 million Jordanian dinars.

HE the Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh al-Khulaifi participated Tuesday as a speaker in the high-level session titled ‘Sustaining Peace In A Shifting Global Order’, as part of the Bled Strategic Forum held in the Republic of Slovenia.In his speech before the session, HE Dr al-Khulaifi affirmed that Qatar will remain committed to its role as a trusted mediator and will continue investing in promoting a culture of dialogue, mediation, and preventive diplomacy, in a way that enhances opportunities for sustainable peace and fulfils the aspirations of peoples for security and development.He stated that successful mediation requires a set of fundamental principles, including neutrality and building trust, communication and engagement with all parties, humanitarian motivation, patience, and perseverance. He added in this context that no mediation process can achieve its objectives if the conflicting parties do not view it as impartial and free from political agendas.HE Dr al-Khulaifi explained that Qatar has earned its reputation in this field through openness and engagement with various actors, including parties that major powers may avoid communicating with, while maintaining distinguished relations with its partners, the United Nations, and regional and international organisations.He emphasised that starting with humanitarian steps, such as the release of prisoners, the exchange of detainees, medical evacuation, or even opening humanitarian corridors, helps build trust between the conflicting parties and creates a more favourable environment for moving to major political issues related to the conflict.He also pointed out that successful mediation is not achieved overnight; rather, it is a long process that requires cumulative steps to build trust and keep dialogue channels open. In this regard, HE Dr al-Khulaifi outlined a set of essential elements to make agreements more sustainable and effective, including strengthening the provisions of agreements to ensure practical implementation and prevent loopholes that parties may exploit later, establishing precise and enforceable follow-up mechanisms to ensure all parties fulfil their obligations, and incorporating clear provisions for resolving potential future disputes during implementation.Those essential elements also included involving regional actors for their direct interests and ability to positively influence the parties, and linking agreements to humanitarian and development projects that enhance the benefits of peace and deliver tangible outcomes for the lives of people.HE the Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the organisers of the Bled Strategic Forum, noting that the convening of this forum amidst the increasing challenges facing the international system reflects the urgent need to strengthen multilateral dialogue and develop new approaches to resolve conflicts and consolidate security and stability.