HH the Amir, Macron deepen bonds on historic visit

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and French President Emmanuel Macron concluded a historic visit with a series of formal discussions at Lusail Palace on Tuesday. Upon their arrival, His Highness warmly greeted the president and his entourage, expressing delight over the landmark event - the first state visit by a French president to Qatar. The Amir underscored the strength of the bilateral relationship and his desire to further deepen the strategic partnership in various domains.

In response, President Macron conveyed his gratitude to the Amir for the gracious reception and hospitality. He pledged France's dedication to expanding cooperative relations, aiming to advance them to new heights that satisfy the aspirations of both nations and their peoples. The two leaders reviewed the existing bilateral cooperation and strategic partnership, exploring ways to bolster and broaden them across sectors, particularly economics, investments, security, and defense.

The summit featured a combined meeting with key officials, including the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, as well as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, along with ministers and senior government representatives. On the French side, the delegation included the Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and other high-ranking officials.

The visit commenced with a ceremonial reception, which commenced with a 21-gun salute, a performance of the traditional Qatari Ardha dance, and displays by guards mounted on horseback and camels. Following these, both national anthems were played, and the leaders exchanged greetings with their respective delegations.