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| His Highness The Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani |
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| The logo of Qatar National Day |
Qatari Ambassador to Korea Mohammed Ahmad Al-Hayki contributed the below article on the occasion of his country's National Day. ― ED.
In my capacity as the ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Korea, I feel greatly privileged and honored to celebrate the National Day of the State of Qatar (Dec. 18) in this wonderful city of Seoul.
Dec. 18 marks a very important occasion in the history of Qatar, where Qataris proudly celebrate the National Day in commemoration of the founding of the State of Qatar by the founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani, in 1878.
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| His Excellency Mohammed Ahmad Al-Hayki, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Korea |
However, the oil market has its ups and downs and in 1985, prices tumbled down to rock bottom which had a negative effect on our economy.
Due to such unpredicted volatility in the oil market, the government endeavored to develop the giant north gas field to reduce dependency on oil and to diversify its economic resources.
Starting in 1991 and through hard and meticulous work, Qatar was able to produce and load its first shipment of LNG destined for Japan in 1996.
Today, with a massive production of 77 million tons per annum, Qatar is the largest natural gas producer in the world. Further plans are underway to boost production to 126 million tons per annum by 2027.
On the list of Qatar's LNG customers are the Republic of Korea, Japan, China, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, UAE, Spain, Italy, the U.K., Poland, Turkey, the Netherlands, the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Brazil.
This is such a big list that requires a huge quantity of gas to be delivered thousands of miles away to customers around the globe in an efficient, secure and timely manner. Thanks to close ties and cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the State of Qatar which made this task an achievable reality.
Using the technically sophisticated state of the art Korean built LNG carriers, such as Q-FLEX and Q-MAX, Qatar is able to reach and deliver LNG to any corner of the world.
The choice to go for LNG carriers instead of pipe lines, reflects a wise and far sighted decision by the political leadership of the State of Qatar, taking into consideration the region's volatile and ambiguous political uncertainties.
Energy relations
Qatar and Korea share a strong relationship spanning over 47 years, and have made great milestones and achievements together. In 1995, Qatargas signed the first LNG sales and purchase agreement, and four years later delivered the first cargo to Korea.
Since then, Qatargas has increased its deliveries to reach more than 9 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of LNG to Korean customers. Today, Qatargas is the largest LNG supplier in the world and it clearly intends to maintain its leading position in the LNG industry and is determined to continue to be a trusted and reliable supplier of clean energy to the market.
Qatar and Korea signed the largest LNG shipbuilding deal in history
Qatar Petroleum signed on June 1, 2020, agreements to reserve LNG ship construction in the Republic of Korea to be utilized for Qatar Petroleum's future LNG carrier fleet requirement, including those for the ongoing expansion projects in the North Field and the United States of America.
Under the agreements, the big three Korean shipyards ― Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) ― will reserve a major portion of their LNG ship construction capacity for Qatar Petroleum through the year 2027.
It is worth noting that the State of Qatar requested 73 LNG carriers (for the export of LNG) from 2001 to 2012, and the three Korean companies won all of these orders, which indicates the extent of Qatar's confidence in the technology of Korean companies.
These milestone agreements indicate the close relationship between the two countries, highlights Korea's position as a key and strategic energy partner with the State of Qatar and will take the relationship between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Korea to greater and brighter horizons.
This mega deal comes at a difficult time where the shipbuilding industry was suffering from low demand and the effect of COVID-19.
The deal will create more than 160,000 jobs and revive the shipbuilding and related industries such as steel, amongst others. Moreover, it will reinforce Korea's position as the world leader in the shipbuilding industry and it will further consolidate the already existing cordial relations between the two countries.
Qatar Petroleum's LNG carrier fleet program is the largest of its kind in the history of the LNG industry, and will play a pivotal role in meeting the shipment requirement of Qatar Petroleum's local and international LNG Projects, as well as replacing part of the Qatar existing LNG fleet.
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| Doha, the capital city of Qatar |
Challenges of foreign policy
Qatar has faced several challenges in the past and in the present, particularly the antagonistic measures imposed on her since June 2017, but the State of Qatar overcame these challenges thanks to the wisdom of its political leadership and its foreign policy that is based on the principle of consolidating international peace and security, promoting peaceful settlement of international disputes, mutual respect and common interests, peaceful coexistence and international cooperation, adherence to the values of justice and openness and respect for human rights, in accordance with the principals of international law and the U.N. charter.
The foreign policy of Qatar has accomplished many feats, including:
Playing a role in facilitating the ongoing peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government,
Playing a crucial role in finalizing a historic U.S.-Taliban peace accord, which creates a way for the United States to pull out of Afghanistan,
Mediating the Lebanese reconciliation in 2008, known as the Doha Agreement,
Sponsoring the Agreement signed between the Republic of Djibouti and the State of Eritrea on June 6, 2010,
Signing of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur Sudan in 2011 after more than two years of Qatari mediation,
Leading successful mediation efforts that resulted in solving the dispute between Sudan and Eritrea.
Aljazeera and freedom of press
In order to enhance an environment conducive to democracy and open up a new horizon for freedom of opinion and expression, monitoring of newspapers was left in 1995 and the ministry of information was abolished in 1998. Aljazeera channel station was launched in 1996, thus starting a new dawn and pioneering experience in the region and the Arab world.
The birth of Aljazeera brought a new era of change which revolutionized the mass media and opened a new window for freedom of press in the Arab world.
Qatar response to COVID-19
Qatar's successful strategy to confront COVID-19 is based on three main pillars, the first is how to protect citizens and residents in Qatar and ensure the resilience of the health care system, the second is to ensure that the impact on the economy and society is at the lowest level, and the third is that Qatar is committed to its international responsibilities by standing with other countries that need help.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis the State of Qatar has taken various steps and measures both on local and international levels to deal with the pandemic. Locally, the most important measures were as follows:
Acting swiftly to restrict travel and control the borders,
Expanding hospitals capacity,
Creating quarantine, and isolation facilities,
Establishing a distancing education and learning mechanism and activating electronic platforms for all students,
Supporting businesses, and boosting the economy through the stimulus packages provided to small and medium-sized enterprises.
These local measures were coupled with unremitting efforts at the international level. The government of the State of Qatar supports international efforts as it sent aid to dozens of countries, including assistance in the field of medical supplies. The Qatari air force built field hospitals in several countries, including contributing to the work of multilateral health care institutions that are working to develop vaccines or that work to ensure the resilience of health care in other countries, and Qatar has already made a contribution of $140 million to these organizations.
The State of Qatar cooperated with the Republic of Korea at the international level to confront the pandemic. Qatar, South Korea, Canada, Denmark and Sierra Leone launched on May 12, the Group of Friends of Solidarity for Global Health Security to combat the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).
The launch of this group reflects the commitment of both Qatar and Korea to the exchange of best practices and lessons learned throughout the pandemic.
In this context, I strongly praise the excellent Korean response to coronavirus, which made Korea an example to learn from for other countries.
Qatar Airways
Since its launch in 1994, Qatar Airways has grown from an airline which operated only four aircraft in a regional capacity to an airline that currently flies over 250 aircrafts to more than 170 destinations across the globe.
Qatar Airways has earned many awards and accolades, becoming one of an elite group of just a few airlines worldwide to have earned a five-star rating by Skytrax and was voted Airline of the Year in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and most recently in 2019.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Qatar Airways have played a pivotal humanitarian role through coordination with friendly and brotherly countries, Qatar Airways have transported more than 1 million passengers safely to their homes, in addition to transporting tons of medical shipments, in a time when most airports were closed and airlines operations suspended.
According to the latest IATA data, Qatar Airways has become the largest international carrier between April to July by fulfilling its mission of taking people home. This enabled the airline to accumulate unmatched experience in carrying passengers safely and reliably and uniquely positioned the airline to effectively rebuild its network. The carrier has stringently implemented the most advanced safety and hygiene measures on board its aircrafts and in Hamad International Airport.
HIA was recently ranked "Third Best Airport in the World" by the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2020. HIA was also voted the "Best Airport in the Middle East" for the sixth year in a row and "Best Staff Service in the Middle East" for the fifth year in a row.
Two years to go before FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
Nov. 21, Saturday, marked two years until the next and ground-breaking edition of the FIFA World Cup. The compact nature, modern landscape and fascinating culture offered by the first edition of the event to be held in the Middle East and Arab world will guarantee a unique experience in 2022. Among the many distinctive features, travelling fans will have the opportunity to potentially attend more than one match a day during the group stage.
Infrastructure planned for the event has reached 90 percent completion, with the four stadiums that have already been finalized ― Khalifa International, Al Janoub, Education City and Al Rayan ― safely hosting more than 100 matches in 2020 in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two more tournament venues are in the final stages of construction and the main work at the remaining two stadiums are set to be completed in 2021.
It is worth to note that Korean companies are actively participating in the process of development of major projects of the World Cup in Qatar, like roads and highways, hotels, as well as other projects like drainage and waste water treatment, hospitals, museums, ports and conference centers. There are 37 Korean companies currently operating in Qatar in trade, contracting, construction, and information and technology, in addition to 140 joint Qatari Korean firms.
There are more opportunities for Korean companies as Qatar progresses forward to finalizing construction projects to host the 2022 World Cup in Doha.
To conclude
This celebration comes at a time when relations between the two countries are at their highest level.
Relations between the two countries have come a long way over the past 47 year, since establishment of diplomatic ties in April 1974.
Reciprocal visits among leaders of both countries have contributed to making relations between the two countries reach the current level. On top of these visits was the visit of His Highness The Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in January 2019, which opened new horizons for cooperation between the two countries.
During the visit, nine agreements and MOUs were signed in different fields, including smart farming, fisheries and aquaculture, and vocational retraining. These MOUs will reinforce the special relations between the two countries.
Also, the visit made in August 2018 by H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, left a positive impact as it was the first visit of His Excellency to the Republic of Korea.
Korean high officials have also paid visits to Doha, the last and most recent visit was by H.E. former Prime Minister, Lee Nak-yon. A number of agreements and memorandums of understanding have been signed during this visit.
On the political level, the two countries share common positions, like promoting peaceful settlements of international disputes through dialogue, peaceful coexistence based on respect of mutual sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, in accordance with international law and U.N. charter.
Qatar and Korea consult with each other on current and important political matters and exchange support for their candidatures in the U.N. and other international organization.
Korea is Qatar's second most important trade partner. Qatar exports and supplies Korea with more than 30 percent of its LNG needs, plus petroleum condensates, petrochemicals and fertilizer. Qatar is a major customer and buyer of high tech Korean built LNG giant tankers which carry and transport Qatari LNG across the globe.
I strongly believe that we still have many opportunities and a lot of work to do to further develop and strengthen our cordial relations to serve the best interest of both people and countries.
I think we have laid down a solid foundation to build on for prosperous and a long lasting friendly relations for the future.
