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QNA
Doha
The Emir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani and President of France Emmanuel Macron held a session of official talks at the Emiri Diwan on Thursday.
The session was attended by the Deputy Emir His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al Thani and a number of ministers as well as members of the official delegation accompanying the president.
During the session, the two sides discussed means to enhance relations between the two countries in various fields.
They also discussed the Gulf crisis and the siege imposed on Qatar on which HH the Emir and the French president renewed their call for a solution through dialogue within Kuwaiti mediation.
The two sides exchanged views on the situation in Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Libya and Iraq as well as a number of issues of common interest, particularly US President Donald Trump's decision recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the plan to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
They also reviewed efforts of the two countries in the fight against terrorism as part of regional and international efforts to block its financial sources and address its causes.
HH the Emir and the French president witnessed the signing of a number of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between both countries.
The two leaders witnessed the signing of a letter of intent on fighting terrorism, which included a road map on strengthening the cooperation between Qatar and France to fight terrorism and its financing, and combat extremism.
They also witnessed the signing of a letter of intent to cooperate in the defence field between the Qatari and French ministries of Defence, the seventh executive programme in education and higher education for the cultural and artistic cooperation agreement, a memorandum of understanding between Qatar National Library and National Library of France, a cooperation agreement between Qatar Airways and Airbus Group, and a cooperation agreement between Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and French waste and water management group (Suez).
They witnessed the signing of a memorandum of commitment and mutual cooperation to provide services for Qatar metro and Lusail tram between Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail) and an alliance of French national railway corporation (SNCF) and autonomous operator of Parisian transports (RATP).
HH the Emir and the president also witnessed the signing of a letter of agreement for cooperation between the Qatari Ministry of Defence and Dassault Aviation Group as well as a letter of intent on cooperation between Qatar's Ministry of Defence and Nexter for ground defences.
Earlier on arrival at Hamad International Airport, the French president and his accompanying delegation were welcomed by Minister of Municipality and Environment HE Mohammed bin Abdullah al Rumaihi, Qatar's Ambassador to France HE Dr Khalid bin Rashid al Mansouri and Ambassador of France to Qatar HE Eric Chevallier.
HH the Emir later hosted a luncheon banquet at the Museum of Islamic Art in honour of the French president and his accompanying delegation.
HH Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani, the personal representative of HH the Emir, attended the banquet along with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a number of sheikhs and ministers, as well as prominent businessmen.
