1. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jongmoon visited Qatar on September 13 and discussed with high-level officials, including the State Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minster of Municipality and Environment, ways to enhance bilateral substantive cooperation and secure cooperation concerning the current situation in Afghanistan.

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2. Vice Minister Choi had a meeting with Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, to appreciate close cooperation between Korea and Qatar even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and to agree to expand high-level exchanges such as through activated inter-government cooperation channels and enhance bilateral substantive cooperation and collaboration in the international arena.

o Vice Minister Choi stressed that Korea and Qatar have built mutually beneficial relations in the field of energy, and asked the government of Qatar to support Korean companies’ bids to continue taking part in its projects to increase LNG production such as LNG carrier construction and transport projects.

o Moreover, Vice Minister Choi expressed his gratitude to Qatar for offering support to the Korean Embassy in Afghanistan by providing diplomatic convenience so that it can smoothly work in Doha where it has moved temporarily due to the current situation in Afghanistan.

o State Minister Al-Muraikhi emphasized that Korea and Qatar should expand cooperation in various areas including not only economy but also health, culture, education, tourism and consular affairs, and reaffirmed that Qatar will continue to provide Korea with necessary support regarding the situation in Afghanistan.

3. Also, Vice Minister Choi met with Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Municipality and Environment, to ask for support to ensure that Korean companies continuously take part in construction and infrastructure projects and that problems regarding the construction of the Doha Metro are addressed as soon as possible.

4. Vice Minister Choi’s visit to Qatar, which came one month after the telephone conversation between the two countries’ Ministers of Foreign Affairs, served as an opportunity to further consolidate Korea’s comprehensive partnership with Qatar.