QATAR and the United States signed contracts worth $5 billion during the visit of the Emir His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani to Washington last month.

It includes agreements between the two governments signed during the recently concluded Qatar Business and Investment Conference in New York.

Addressing the mediapersons on Sunday, US Ambassador to Qatar HE Joseph LeBaron said that it was the first official meeting of HH the Emir with President Barack Obama.

“President Obama and HH the Emir discussed ways to strengthen relationship between the two countries in economic, military and cultural fields.

They also decided to promote democracy, respect for human rights and reforms throughout the Middle East.

The Emir’s visit boosted ties between the US and Qatar and strengthened people-to-people contact.

It also enhanced cooperation in many fields such as infrastructure, commerce, sustainable development, security cooperation, education and culture,” he added.

The ambassador said that during the 10-day visit, an agreement on food security was signed between the US Agency for International Development and Qatar's Ministry for International Cooperation.

An important agreement on science and technology was also signed in New York between the US Secretary of Energy and Qatar Science and Technology Park Chief Dr Tidu Maini.

"That memorandum provides guidelines for the US and Qatar to work together in science and technology fields such as green technologies.

It also envisages cooperation in cutting-edge technology for which HH the Emir and Her Highness Sheikha Moza has been striving for long.," the ambassador added.

He also said that in New York, Qatar Airways signed an agreement to purchase five Boeing 777 freighters and Qatar Rails inked a construction management agreement with AECOM and Parsons for the Lusail light rail transit system.

The Public Works Authority Ashgal awarded Parsons International the contracts for the designing of two new highways in Qatar, which include the East-West Corridor and the Wakrah Bypass.

The ambassador said that he witnessed a Qatari urban development project spread across 10 acres of land in the heart of downtown Washington DC.

"It took years to get the permits and licenses to start the project," he added.

LeBaron said that HH the Emir also met the US Secretary of Defence, Secretary of Energy, and chairman of foreign relations.

"The US-Qatar relationship is on the upswing.

There has been a qualitative change in ties at the political level on issues of regional importance such as Darfur to Yemen.

There was a great unanimity of views on these issues, including Libya.

The US president praised Qatar's role and the coverage given by Al Jazeera of Arab uprising since January this year," he added.

The ambassador also said that a number of US-based firms are trying to help Qatar in the successful hosting of the 2022 World Cup.

May

Jun

Jul