China stands ready to work with Qatar to enhance communication and coordination, and deepen cooperation in various fields, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said when meeting with visiting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Beijing on Monday. Noting that Qatar is China's important strategic partner in the Gulf and Middle East region, Li said that China-Qatar relations have maintained steady and sound development, with cemented political mutual trust.
China is willing to join hands with Qatar to strengthen communication and coordination, render each other firm support, and deepen cooperation in such areas as energy, investment, artificial intelligence, and people-to-people exchanges, so as to better benefit the people of the two countries, he said.
The two countries should strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation, and work for a more just and equitable global governance system, Li said.
China will work together with Gulf states including Qatar and the international community to restore peace and tranquility to the region at an early date, Li said.
Mohammed said that Qatar values its ties with China and is willing to strengthen exchanges at all levels with the Chinese side, deepen practical cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, high-tech, and advanced manufacturing so as to jointly usher in a new golden era of the bilateral strategic partnership.
Mohammed is paying an official visit to China from Sept 7 to 8.
Chinese premier meets Qatari prime minister in Beijing
Iran-Oman negotiations on the designation of a temporary route for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz have reached the final stage, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday.
The understanding between the two countries regarding the route's designation would likely be registered with the International Maritime Organization in the coming days, Baghaei said at a weekly press conference in Tehran.
The insecurity in the waterway is a consequence of the U.S.-Israeli military aggression against Iran, he said, noting that vessels will not be able to travel this route with confidence and a sense of security by the time this situation continues.
Responding to a question about a Sunday visit by a Qatari delegation to Iran, Baghaei said it took place as part of Qatar's efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region.
He said contacts between Iran and certain other countries in the region that have long been trying to help reduce tensions are "an ongoing process."
In a joint statement late last month, Iran and Oman announced they had exchanged views on a proposed phased framework that includes establishing a temporary joint shipping corridor in the Strait of Hormuz and an agreement to implement a joint project to demine the waterway.
Technical talks between the two countries will continue to address the designation of a permanent shipping corridor, the future administration of the strait, and a mechanism for information exchange, traffic management, and security arrangements in the waterway, the statement added.
Iran tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz on Feb 28, barring safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States following their joint strikes on Iranian territory.
Talks with Oman on Hormuz Strait reach final stage: Iran
