China backs Doha's mediation efforts in US-Iran conflict, Premier Li tells Qatar's Al Thani

Qatar 'keen to elevate its relations' with China, says Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who is on 2-day trip to Beijing By Riyaz ul Khaliq ISTANBUL (AA) – Beijing backs mediation efforts by Doha amid the continuing conflict between the US and Iran, Chinese Premier Li Qiang told his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Monday. 'China supports Qatar's mediation efforts on Middle East issues and is ready to work with Qatar and other regional countries as well as the international community to strive for early peace and tranquility in the region,' Li told Al Thani, who is on two-day official visit to China, Chinese state-run Xinhua News reported. Qatar, alongside Pakistan, is mediating between the US and Iran to end the war which began this February. Li said Qatar is 'an important strategic partner' of China in the Middle East and the Gulf region, and Beijing 'stands ready to work with Qatar to further enhance communication and coordination, firmly support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests, and advance bilateral relations to deliver greater benefits to the two peoples.' Stressing that the two sides strengthen alignment of development strategies, Li said: "China welcomes Qatari investment in China and supports more Chinese enterprises to invest in Qatar to improve the quality and efficiency of two-way investment.' He said he hopes Qatar will 'continue to foster a sound development environment for Chinese enterprises and safeguard the safety of Chinese citizens, institutions, and projects in Qatar.' According to the Qatar News Agency, Al Thani and Li focused on expanding cooperation in the economy, investment, trade, energy, and technology, as well as boosting existing partnerships in areas of mutual interest. The two sides also discussed key regional developments, it said. Al Thani said Qatar was 'keen to elevate its relations with China to broader horizons and further advance cooperation in line with the shared goals and interests of the two countries and their peoples,' the report added. China and Qatar established diplomatic ties in 1980, and in recent years their bilateral trade volume has reached around $24 billion. Qatar supplies around 30% of the liquified natural gas used by China, the world's second-largest economy, but the ongoing US-Iran war has hit global supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, where Beijing also gets Mideast energy imports. Kaynak: This news has been read 14 times in total