French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent state visit here has reaffirmed the strength of Qatar and France’s relations in all fields, ambassador Jean-Baptiste Faivre said.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, he stressed that among the key results of Macron’s visit is the “unique and privileged dialogue between the two heads of state”.
“The two heads of states discussed with friendship, affection, and frankness all issues of common interest in a privileged one-to-one exchange,” Faivre said. “His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani offered a very warm welcome to the president and his delegation.”
“Qatar is a strategic partner of France,” the ambassador pointed out. “The president reaffirmed the historical depth of our relations, the strength of our friendship, and of our partnership.”
Faivre said that His Highness the Amir and Macron will lead the third meeting of the bilateral strategic dialogue next year, “taking the strategic partnership a step further”.
He added that they also agreed to relaunch two-way visits at the ministerial level.
In the educational and cultural fields, Faivre said that 2020 was marked by the celebration of the Qatar-France Year of Culture.
Major French educational institutions, such as HEC Paris in Qatar, are leading actors in this field.
“Designer Christian Dior’s first exhibition in the region was unveiled last month at the M7 Museum in Msheireb,” Faivre said.
“To deepen our co-operation in the educational and cultural fields, President Macron and His Highness the Amir have decided to launch new structuring projects,” he added.
In the economic field, Faivre said that some 30 chief executives toured key investment destinations in Qatar.
A large number of French and Qatari companies have established long-term partnerships.
“In 2020, our bilateral trade stood at €1.9bn. To date, 120 French companies and 90 franchises are established in Qatar (mainly large groups, but SME – small and medium enterprises – presence is increasing, as well), whether in the oil and gas industry, in defence and aeronautics, in infrastructure and construction, in transport, in the environment, in finance, in the digital sector, in the hospitality industry or in distribution,” the ambassador said.
“Our two countries are resolutely looking to the future and wish to extend their co-operation to new areas like innovation, energy transition, and sustainable development,” Faivre added. “President Macron reaffirmed France's commitment to supporting Qatar’s 2030 vision, particularly its energy transition strategy.”
According to envoy, two agreements were signed during Macron’s visit: a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between French Minister of Economy, Finance and Recovery Bruno Lemaire and HE the Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, and a letter of intent on cultural co-operation between Minister of Culture Roselyne Bachelot and HE the Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani.
Faivre stressed that France will also stand by Qatar to make the 2022 FIFA World Cup a success: “We will be glad to contribute to the organisation of the World Cup in 2022, particularly in the field of security.”
On the subject of Afghanistan, he said that France “sincerely extends its gratitude” to Qatari authorities for their “decisive help” in planning and carrying out complex operations there.
Faivre said that Macron’s visit to Qatar came after two successful operations held on December 2, enabling the delivery of 40 tonnes of emergency aid to Kabul on a Qatari military flight in the framework of the joint Franco-Qatari humanitarian operation, and the departure of more than 250 Afghan nationals from Kabul to Paris, via Doha.
“During his meeting with His Highness the Amir, President Macron praised Qatar's exceptional support in the operations carried out since the end of the summer to enable the departure of French and Afghan nationals from Kabul to Paris via Doha,” the ambassador said, adding: “He also underlined the exceptional commitment of Qatari teams in charge of these operations, particularly HE the Assistant Foreign Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohamed al-Khater.”
“To date, around 100 French nationals and nearly 400 Afghan nationals at risk left Kabul to France via Doha,” Faivre said.
He said that Qatar and France have a “shared will” to work together on regional issues and reaffirmed their willingness to maintain stability in the region, citing in Lebanon and developments in the Gulf and neighbouring relations.
“Our goal is to foster peace for a more stable and prosperous region,” Faivre said. “This can only be achieved through a structured regional dialogue.”
“This dialogue was successfully launched at the Baghdad Conference on August 28,” he pointed out. “France, with Qatar, intends to deepen this dynamic by ensuring the follow-up of this important conference for regional co-operation.”
“On Lebanon, the two heads of state strongly reaffirmed the need to preserve the stability and security of that country,” Faivre said. “They expressed their solidarity with the Lebanese people and they reaffirmed their willingness to increase their emergency assistance.”
“They reaffirmed the need for a way out of the current multifaceted crisis in Lebanon,” he added.
On Libya, the ambassador said that “both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to promote a comprehensive and political solution to the Libyan crisis, which must be Libyan-led”.
“The resolution of the crisis lies in the holding of the elections scheduled for December 24,” Faivre added.
The envoy also said that Qatar and France have a common commitment to pursue the fight terrorism: “There is a major threat to our collective security. President Macon and His Highness the Amir have underlined their commitment to continue and deepen our fight against terrorism and radicalisation, including its financing.”
“The two heads of states discussed with friendship, affection, and frankness all issues of common interest in a privileged one-to-one exchange,” Faivre said. “His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani offered a very warm welcome to the president and his delegation.”
“Qatar is a strategic partner of France,” the ambassador pointed out. “The president reaffirmed the historical depth of our relations, the strength of our friendship, and of our partnership.”
Faivre said that His Highness the Amir and Macron will lead the third meeting of the bilateral strategic dialogue next year, “taking the strategic partnership a step further”.
He added that they also agreed to relaunch two-way visits at the ministerial level.
In the educational and cultural fields, Faivre said that 2020 was marked by the celebration of the Qatar-France Year of Culture.
Major French educational institutions, such as HEC Paris in Qatar, are leading actors in this field.
“Designer Christian Dior’s first exhibition in the region was unveiled last month at the M7 Museum in Msheireb,” Faivre said.
“To deepen our co-operation in the educational and cultural fields, President Macron and His Highness the Amir have decided to launch new structuring projects,” he added.
In the economic field, Faivre said that some 30 chief executives toured key investment destinations in Qatar.
A large number of French and Qatari companies have established long-term partnerships.
“In 2020, our bilateral trade stood at €1.9bn. To date, 120 French companies and 90 franchises are established in Qatar (mainly large groups, but SME – small and medium enterprises – presence is increasing, as well), whether in the oil and gas industry, in defence and aeronautics, in infrastructure and construction, in transport, in the environment, in finance, in the digital sector, in the hospitality industry or in distribution,” the ambassador said.
“Our two countries are resolutely looking to the future and wish to extend their co-operation to new areas like innovation, energy transition, and sustainable development,” Faivre added. “President Macron reaffirmed France's commitment to supporting Qatar’s 2030 vision, particularly its energy transition strategy.”
According to envoy, two agreements were signed during Macron’s visit: a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between French Minister of Economy, Finance and Recovery Bruno Lemaire and HE the Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, and a letter of intent on cultural co-operation between Minister of Culture Roselyne Bachelot and HE the Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani.
Faivre stressed that France will also stand by Qatar to make the 2022 FIFA World Cup a success: “We will be glad to contribute to the organisation of the World Cup in 2022, particularly in the field of security.”
On the subject of Afghanistan, he said that France “sincerely extends its gratitude” to Qatari authorities for their “decisive help” in planning and carrying out complex operations there.
Faivre said that Macron’s visit to Qatar came after two successful operations held on December 2, enabling the delivery of 40 tonnes of emergency aid to Kabul on a Qatari military flight in the framework of the joint Franco-Qatari humanitarian operation, and the departure of more than 250 Afghan nationals from Kabul to Paris, via Doha.
“During his meeting with His Highness the Amir, President Macron praised Qatar's exceptional support in the operations carried out since the end of the summer to enable the departure of French and Afghan nationals from Kabul to Paris via Doha,” the ambassador said, adding: “He also underlined the exceptional commitment of Qatari teams in charge of these operations, particularly HE the Assistant Foreign Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohamed al-Khater.”
“To date, around 100 French nationals and nearly 400 Afghan nationals at risk left Kabul to France via Doha,” Faivre said.
He said that Qatar and France have a “shared will” to work together on regional issues and reaffirmed their willingness to maintain stability in the region, citing in Lebanon and developments in the Gulf and neighbouring relations.
“Our goal is to foster peace for a more stable and prosperous region,” Faivre said. “This can only be achieved through a structured regional dialogue.”
“This dialogue was successfully launched at the Baghdad Conference on August 28,” he pointed out. “France, with Qatar, intends to deepen this dynamic by ensuring the follow-up of this important conference for regional co-operation.”
“On Lebanon, the two heads of state strongly reaffirmed the need to preserve the stability and security of that country,” Faivre said. “They expressed their solidarity with the Lebanese people and they reaffirmed their willingness to increase their emergency assistance.”
“They reaffirmed the need for a way out of the current multifaceted crisis in Lebanon,” he added.
On Libya, the ambassador said that “both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to promote a comprehensive and political solution to the Libyan crisis, which must be Libyan-led”.
“The resolution of the crisis lies in the holding of the elections scheduled for December 24,” Faivre added.
The envoy also said that Qatar and France have a common commitment to pursue the fight terrorism: “There is a major threat to our collective security. President Macon and His Highness the Amir have underlined their commitment to continue and deepen our fight against terrorism and radicalisation, including its financing.”
