In the context of the growing friendship and good relations between Qatar and Malaysia, HE the Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr. Mahathir Mohamad will arrive to the country Wednesday on an official visit.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani will meet him on Thursday at the Amiri Diwan to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries.
His Highness the Amir and HE the Malaysian Prime Minister also will witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding regarding the establishment of the joint high committee between the two countries, and will exchange views on regional and international issues of common concern.
It is expected that this visit, discussions and the agreements that will be signed, will contribute to strengthening relations between the two countries and pushing them towards broader prospects, especially in the economic, commercial and investment fields.
Relations between Qatar and Malaysia witness a growing development in many sectors, and they are characterized by strength and mutual brotherly cooperation in various political, economic and commercial fields over the past 45 years.
The diplomatic ties between Qatar and Malaysia began in 1974 at the level of a non-resident ambassador. The embassy of the Kingdom of Malaysia in Doha was officially opened in 2004, and the embassy of the State of Qatar was opened months later in Kuala Lumpur.
Since that time, the relations between Doha and Kuala Lumpur have been in constant development, and have deepened based on many denominators in the common doctrine and visions of unity and solidarity between Islamic countries.
Bilateral relations have witnessed many mutual visits and talks at the highest levels between the leaders of the two countries, ministers, government officials and private sector officials, the most notable example is the visit of HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani to Malaysia in 2009 and the visit of the King of the Kingdom of Malaysia at that time Al-Wathiqu Billah Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin to the State of Qatar in 2010.
The Qatari-Malaysian relations culminated in several historical visits by HH the Amir to Malaysia in 2015 and 2017, the last of which was in December 2018 that opened the doors to developing relations between the two countries and pushing them to a wider strategic level, especially in the economic, commercial exchange, investment opportunities and human and social development fields, in a way that serves the common interests of the two countries and two brotherly peoples.
The two countries are linked to a set of agreements and memoranda of understanding that regulate their relations in many areas such as avoiding double taxation and preventing financial evasion, economic, technical, cultural and media cooperation, and an agreement between Qatar News Agency and the Malaysian News Agency, in addition to memoranda of understanding on cooperation in the field of training diplomats, higher education, legal cooperation activities, and judicial cooperation.
Politically speaking, the State of Qatar and Malaysia stand on one line, confirmed by the convergence of views between the two countries on various regional and international issues, and a common determination to enhance their cooperation in international forums and contribute with the international community in the efforts to maintain international peace and security, combat terrorism, protect human rights and solve disputes through dialogue and peaceful means in accordance with the provisions of international law and the rules of international legality.
In last October, the second session of the Qatari-Malaysian Joint Trade Committee was held in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur. HE Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari chaired the Qatari delegation there.
The future of Qatari-Malaysian cooperation is promising in light of the economic potential of both countries, which will bolster bilateral trade that reached $291 million in the first half of 2019, HE the Minister said.
Al-Kuwari hailed Malaysian companies for contributing to strengthening bilateral economic relations, noting that over 85 Malaysian companies, including 13 fully owned Malaysian firms and 72 jointly owned Qatari-Malaysian companies, are currently operating in Qatar's engineering, construction, oil and gas and information technology sectors.
The Federal Kingdom of Malaysia has a population of about 30 million people and an area of more than 320 thousand square kilometres. It is a modern industrial country that pursues a policy of free economy, in which the country plays an important role in strategic planning and in following up the implementation of the economic programs it draws for it.
Malaysian economy ranks third among the countries of Southeast Asia after Indonesia and Thailand, and the 29th globally. In the 1970s, Malaysia began to imitate the four Asian tiger economies, committing itself to moving from being dependent on mining and agriculture to an economy more dependent on industry.
With foreign investment, heavy industries flourished within years, and its exports became the main growth engine. The electronics industry is one of the pioneering industries there. Its contribution amounts to about 24.5 % in the country's GDP and has consistently achieved a total domestic growth rate of more than 7% with low rates of inflation.
Malaysia has natural resources in agriculture, forestry and minerals fields. It is one of the leading exporters of natural rubber and palm oil, along with wood, cocoa, pepper, pineapple and tobacco.
Malaysia's economy is solid, diversified and the fastest growing in Southeast Asia. Malaysia has the third largest Islamic banking sector in the world. It has succeeded in achieving a renaissance that has made it an important investment front especially in the fields of food, electronics, health and strategic investment projects. (QNA)
