Ambassador of US to Qatar H E Timmy Davis (centre), Minister of Transport H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti (second left), Minister of Commerce and Industry H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Abdullah Al Thani (right), Minister of State H E Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari (second right), and Director of Protocol Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H E Ambassador Ibrahim Yousef Fakhroo (left) cutting the ceremonial cake during US National Day celebrations held at Le Royal Méridien Doha, yesterday.
The US Embassy in Qatar yesterday hosted an event at the Le Royal Méridien Doha hotel to mark the country’s National Day where the officials cherished 50 years of bilateral relations with Qatar.
The celebration was held in the presence of Qatari dignitaries and members of the diplomatic corps, academia and civil society.
Minister of Transport, H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti; Minister of Commerce and Industry, H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Abdullah Al Thani; State Minister, H E Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari; Director of Protocol Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador H E Ibrahim Yousef Fakhroo; Director of American Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador H E Dr. Essa Al Mannai among other dignitaries attended the reception.
Ambassador of US to Qatar, H E Timmy Davis highlighted the strong ties between Qatar and the US in areas such as politics, trade, investment, defence, security, education among several others.
Cherishing the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations, he said, “The US -Qatar relationship has thrived for over 50 years.”
“There are six US universities with campuses in Doha, and many Qataris have studied in the United States. We have seen extraordinary growth in education cooperation over the last decade,” he added.
Ambassador Davis said that hundreds of Qataris have visited the US on its world-renowned International Visitor Leadership Program, including programmes this year on countering trafficking in persons, volunteerism, and women in sports.
The envoy also emphasised that Qatar’s 2021 Year of Culture featured the US, and showcased a year’s worth of activities in both countries to promote trade, travel, higher learning, and the arts.
“As Qatar prepares for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, joint training exercises and increased information sharing are helping enable a secure environment for the tournament and beyond,” he added.
“It has been an impressive year for Qatar,” said Ambassador Davis referring to accomplishments like supporting the Afghanistan evacuation — largest airlift evacuation in US history — and the exciting upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022.
The event also featured a song composed by Qatari song writer Dana Al Fardan, about the 50 years of Qatar-US bilateral relations.
