Mexican ambassador Niembro (fifth, right)and ambassadors al-Nuaimi and Fakhro led the ceremonial cutting of the cake on Thursday to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic ties between Qatar and Mexico. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed

By Joey Aguilar
Staff Reporter

High-level visits between Qatar and Mexico would take place from next month to further strengthen diplomatic and bilateral ties, Mexican Ambassador Francisco Niembro announced on Thursday.

Speaking at a programme organised to mark the formal opening of the Mexican embassy in Qatar and 40 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the envoy said HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will visit Mexico in November while Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto will be in Qatar in January 2016.

“That will define the route and set the goals for the relations over the next years,” Niembro said in his speech.

The event was attended by Department of American Affairs manager Zayed bin Rashid al-Mansour al-Nuaimi, Ministry of Foreign Affairs protocol director Ibrahim Yousef Fakhro, diplomats and representatives from the private sector, among others.

Niembro said foreign ministers of the two countries had  signed an agreement in Doha in March last year for the mutual opening of embassies.

“Since then, an intense agenda of high-level meetings, official and business delegations visiting both countries and the negotiation of a very complete set of agreements in several fields, has brought a new rhythm to the relationship between Qatar and Mexico,” he noted.

The Mexican mission in Doha wants to have a “continuity to all the initiatives for a more productive relation and to make it long-lasting”.

The envoy also cited three essential elements to accomplish their goals: close communication and understanding through an open political dialogue, an adequate legal framework through the agreements that will be signed in the next months, and the unprecedented visits of the head of states of the two countries.

Prior to the celebration, Niembro and representatives of ProMéxico, a government agency aimed at promoting trade and investment, also met with prominent Mexican entrepreneurs to open a permanent dialogue with them.

The meeting aims to identify opportunities where both parties can work together and strengthen the role of Mexico in Qatar’s economy.

A seminar with local companies from the agri-food sector was also held on Thursday.

“This is the first of a series of fora on why to do business with Mexico directed at businessmen from different sectors,” the envoy noted.

A series of activities was also held to celebrate the 40 years of diplomatic relations between Qatar and Mexico and the formal opening of the Mexican embassy, in the Diplomatic Area, West Bay.