HH the Emir and Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn, at the official reception ceremony in Addis Ababa yesterday.

QNA/Addis Ababa

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn, yesterday held a round of official talks at the National Palace in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

At the outset of the meeting, the Ethiopian prime minister welcomed HH the Emir and the accompanying delegation to Ethiopia, thanking him for choosing Ethiopia as the first stop in his visits in Africa, pointing to the depth of existing ties between the two countries and stressing his country’s keenness on boosting and developing ties on all fronts.

For his part, HH the Emir expressed his delight at visiting Ethiopia and meeting the prime minister, voicing gratitude to the Ethiopian government and people for the warm hospitality extended to him and the accompanying delegation, and hoping the visit will help in further developing ties between the two countries and taking them to wider horizons so as to serve the mutual interests, especially as the two countries enjoy excellent relations.

The session reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways of developing them at different levels, particularly in infrastructure, education and economy, as well as enhancing investment opportunities between the two sides.

Talks also touched on regional and international developments.

The members of the official delegation accompanying the Emir attended the session along with a number of Ethiopian ministers and senior officials.

The Emir and the Ethiopian prime minister had held a bilateral meeting before the round of talks, during which they discussed bilateral relations and means of boosting ties on all fronts that serve the two countries and people, in addition to exchanging views on regional and international issues.

Later HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met Ethiopian President Dr Mulatu Teshome, at the National Palace.

During the meeting, they reviewed relations between Qatar and Ethiopia and ways to develop them.

In addition, they exchanged views on topics of common interest. The official delegation accompanying HH the Emir attended the meeting along with a number of Ethiopian ministers.

Later HH the Emir attended a dinner banquet hosted by Prime Minister Desalegn at the National Palace.

The Emir arrived in Ethiopia earlier yesterday on a two-day state visit. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn was at Bole International Airport to receive the Emir.

Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs Workneh Gebeyehu, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Abdulfatah Hassan, Minister of Transportation Ahmed Shide, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hirut Zemene, Qatar’s ambassador to Ethiopia Abdulaziz Sultan Jassim al-Rumaihi, Ethiopia’s ambassador to Qatar Mesganu Arga Moach, a number of head of Arab diplomatic missions, and members of the Qatari embassy also received the Emir. An official reception ceremony was held for the Emir upon arrival.

Source: Gulf Times