Qatar PM-FM to visit China for talks on ties, regional security

Qatar’s PM-FM will visit China for high-level talks on bilateral ties, economic cooperation and regional security, including the Strait of Hormuz.Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani will begin a two-day official visit to the People’s Republic of China on Monday, September 7, where he will hold high-level discussions with senior Chinese officials aimed at strengthening strategic bilateral relations.Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Dr Majed Al-Ansari announced the visit in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), noting that it will run from September 7 to 8. The scheduled meetings will focus on strengthening strategic relations between Doha and Beijing and expanding economic and investment cooperation across various fields in the two countries’ shared interests.The bilateral agenda will also focus on major regional developments, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and the need to ensure security and freedom of international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.The Beijing talks come amid sustained Qatari mediation between the United States and Iran. A 60-day negotiation window established under a June 18 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Washington and Tehran lapsed on August 17 without a permanent agreement, leaving commercial transit through the waterway unresolved.Qatar, acting alongside Oman and Pakistan, has pushed to return both parties to the negotiating table. Sheikh Mohammed held talks in Tehran on August 27 with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, reviewing a joint proposal to establish a temporary shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz.Al-Ansari stated on September 1 that the unresolved closure of the strait risks wider regional escalation, underscoring Doha’s push to keep international sea lanes open for commercial exports. Qatar has repeatedly stressed that restoring normal navigation through the strait is a priority and that the crisis requires a diplomatic solution.The security environment remains sensitive, with Al-Ansari noting on September 4 that the Qatar Armed Forces intercepted incoming Iranian missiles and drones, while stressing that military escalation in the region cannot be justified.China is one of Qatar’s largest long-term energy clients and commercial partners, with both countries maintaining regular diplomatic coordination on international trade routes and Middle East stability.