The civil aviation authorities of the State of Qatar and the People’s Republic of China convened in Beijing. The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation in operational matters for the national carriers of both nations and developing capabilities in this area to ensure the efficient continuity of air traffic. A range of topics of mutual interest was also discussed, as reported by Qatar News Agency.
The Qatari delegation was led by Mohammed bin Faleh Al Hajri, in charge of managing the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA), while the Chinese side was represented by Chen Wei, director general of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
The discussions culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) intended to increase transport rights for passenger and cargo flights between Qatar and China. Additionally, the MoU fosters cooperation in code-sharing between designated carriers, which opens new avenues for collaboration in air transport. This agreement is expected to yield positive outcomes for economic and investment activities as well as trade exchange between the two nations.
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China-Qatar trade grew by 130 percent to reach $24.5 billion
The volume of trade between Qatar and China has surged from $10.6 billion in 2014 to $24.5 billion in 2023, reflecting an increase of over 130 percent, according to HE Cao Xiolin, the Chinese ambassador to Qatar, in December 2024. Since 2020, China has consistently been Qatar’s largest trading partner and largest export destination for four consecutive years.
Ambassador Xiolin remarked that the mutual trust between China and Qatar continues to grow, with their relationship reaching unprecedented heights and serving as a model for global state-to-state relations. His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar, and President Xi Jinping have met six times in the past decade. The most recent meeting took place on the sidelines of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana in July 2024, where the two leaders reached significant consensus on deepening the China-Qatar strategic partnership.
