Cyprus president welcomes Amir

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani arrived Monday in Nicosia, on an official visit to the Republic of Cyprus.

His Highness the Amir was welcomed upon arrival at Larnaca International Airport by the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides.

Also present to welcome His Highness the Amir were Qatar's Ambassador to Cyprus Ali bin Yousef al-Mulla, Ambassador of Cyprus to Qatar Nicholas Manols, and several senior officials in the government of Cyprus as well as members of the Qatari embassy.

His Highness the Amir is accompanied by an official delegation.

President Christodoulides affirmed that the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Cyprus is a testament to the robust co-operation that already exists between the two countries.

In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), he said that the Amir's visit "is not only a celebration of our longstanding partnership, but also a clear indication of our mutual willingness to further expand our relations, both politically and economically."

He said that politically, this visit underscores the continuously growing and evolving co-operation and ties between the two nations of which he is personally extremely pleased.
Cyprus and Qatar have already forged a pivotal cooperation in the energy sector, exemplified by QatarEnergy International's strategic participation in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone, the president said.

Both countries recognise the untapped potential that exists in sectors such as technology, infrastructure, renewable energy and agriculture, he said noting that projects in areas such as renewable energy, biotechnology, and information technology have the potential to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time, benefitting the citizens of both countries.

By exploring these areas, the two countries aim to create new opportunities for investment, trade, and economic growth, he said.

President Christodoulides also discussed the key topics to be addressed during the visit of the Amir, including strengthening economic and trade relations, exploring ways to increase investment, advancing bilateral relations to a strategic level, discussing strategies to ensure regional stability and security, identifying opportunities for cultural programmes to build deeper mutual understanding and connections between the peoples of both nations, collaborating on international issues, and emphasising the importance of joint efforts to address pressing challenges.

He noted that the exchange of official visits at the highest levels between the two countries has significantly strengthened political and economic ties, fostering a climate of mutual trust and cooperation, adding that these visits have led to the exchange and evaluation of the texts of several bilateral agreements, enhancing trade, investment, and cultural exchange.

The relationship between the two countries is poised to reach unprecedented levels, he said, adding that both leaderships are committed to exploring new opportunities in technology, energy, and education, investments, further solidifying their partnership.

He outlined the key areas of bilateral cooperation that the Republic of Cyprus prioritise, which include energy cooperation, increasing bilateral trade volumes and encouraging Qatari investments in key sectors of the Cypriot economy, promoting Cyprus as a premier tourist destination for Qatari citizens and exploring collaborative opportunities to enhance tourism infrastructure and services, enhancing academic exchanges, scholarships, and cultural programmes to deepen mutual understanding and foster long-term educational and cultural ties, and collaborating on regional security initiatives and defence cooperation to address common security challenges.