DOHA: Qatar-China relations are growing with the presence of several Chinese companies in Qatar and plans to establish a Chinese international school and an exclusive Chinese market in the country, the Chinese Ambassador Gao Youzhen (pictured) said yesterday.
He was delivering a lecture on China's foreign policy to students of the Qatar University, hosted by the Department of International Affairs in the College of Arts and Sciences.
The ambassador, speaking in fluent Arabic, thanked Qatar University for giving him the opportunity to engage the students in a discussion that would shed light on his country, its foreign policy and relations with Qatar.
"We strive to establish good relations and friendly ties with nations whether they are socialist or capitalist, big or small, strong or weak, and respect the sovereignty of every country and follow the principle of non-interference in other nations' affairs," he said.
Youzhen reiterated his country's stance on the One China policy. Discussing Taiwan, Xinjiang and Tibet, he pointed out that China continues to oppose all separation objectives and thanked Qatar and other Arab nations for their support in this regard.
"We have had long-standing relations with the Arab world," he said, highlighting the historic Silk Road, the cultural ties and cooperation that have existed for hundreds of years.
On Palestine, the ambassador said that China has always supported the Palestinian cause which he said was a core issue in the Middle East and which his country places on the top of the list of priorities. He also touched on China's position on events in Syria, Iran, and Sudan, reiterating that their policy stands with the interest of the people, and supports a peaceful solution towards security and stability.
China-Qatar relations started in 1988 and has grown considerably over the years. Many Chinese companies now operate in Qatar in telecommunications, the Doha Port, Lusail and many other joint projects, he said.
He discussed plans for a school to be set up in Doha and to implement agreements for scholarships for Qatari students to study in China. On culture, he pointed to the Spring Festival events that took place a month ago and announced that a Chinese market is expected to be established soon in Doha.
© The Peninsula 2013
