Updated:2024-12-03 10:34 Views:116
Britain’s King Charles III | FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse
LONDON — Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Tuesday begins a two-day state visit to Britain hosted by King Charles III as the UK aims to seal a trade deal with the oil-rich Gulf states.
The visit by the emir, 44, and his consort, Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad Al Thani, will include a state banquet at Buckingham Palace and talks at Downing Street with the country’s Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Article continues after this advertisementThe government, elected in July, is hoping to conclude a free trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council’s six nations: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
FEATURED STORIES GLOBALNATION Trump warns 'hell to pay' if Gaza hostages not freed by inauguration GLOBALNATION 20,000 ex-Pogo workers seen leaving PH soon as ban deadline nears GLOBALNATION Russian submarine not inside PH territory, says Nat'l Security CouncilREAD: King Charles turns 76 after year of little celebration
Starmer’s government has staked its credibility on a pledge to grow the economy.
Article continues after this advertisementIt says a GCC free trade deal could boost the UK economy by some £1.6 billion ($2 billion) and open up lucrative markets to British firms.
Article continues after this advertisementUK business minister Jonathan Reynolds recently described securing the deal as a “priority” for the Labour government.
Article continues after this advertisementThe Qatari couple, who arrived Monday at Stansted airport east of London, will be greeted by heir to the throne Prince William and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, at their Kensington Palace residence in west London.
READ: King Charles makes first public appearance on Australia tour
Article continues after this advertisementThe royal party will then travel to Horse Guards Parade in central London where they will meet Charles, 76 and received a ceremonial welcome.
His wife Queen Camilla, 77, will miss the arrival due to the lingering effects of a chest infection, Buckingham Palace said, but was due to attend other elements of the day.
Charles and the emir will inspect the guard of honor before they take part in a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace where they will be met by a second guard of honor.
Later Tuesday, the Qatari couple will view a special exhibition relating to Qatar at Buckingham Palace.
In the evening they will attend a state banquet hosted by Charles and Camilla.
Catherine, 42, also known as Kate, who has only recently made a tentative return to royal duties following her cancer diagnosis earlier this year, will not attend, her Kensington Palace office said.
Rights recordThe Qatari leader was educated in Britain where he attended leading private schools before graduating from the Sandhurst military academy.
He and Sheikha Jawaher attended both Charles’ coronation in May 2023 and the funeral of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022.
Charles, as Prince of Wales, visited Qatar eight times and last met the emir at the Cop28 summit in Dubai last December.
On Wednesday the emir will visit Sandhurst before returning to Buckingham Palace to bid farewell to Charles and Camilla.
He will then join Starmer for a bilateral meeting at Downing Street followed by a dinner hosted by the Lord Mayor of London and the City of London Corporation, which runs the capital’s financial district.
Trade between the UK and the Gulf nations currently tops £57 billion pounds ($72 bn), according to the British government.
Trade in goods and services between the UK and oil-rich Qatar alone was worth $6.8 billion at the end of the first quarter this year, the Department for Business and Trade said last month.
Starmer and Thani are also likely to discuss the Middle East, with Qatar a key mediator between Israel and Hamas in the conflict sparked by the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel.
Ahead of the visit, rights body The Peter Tatchell Foundation said it would stage a peaceful protest close to Buckingham Palace as the emir arrives.
The foundation said it wanted to highlight what it called the Gulf nation’s “appalling abuse of the human rights of women, LGBTs and migrant workers”.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Qatar has faced criticism over its human rights recorduna game, in particular its criminalization of same-sex relationships.
READ NEXT Japan witnesses warmest autumn on record Hawaii woman who disappeared went to Mexico, not missing – p... EDITORS' PICK Rufa Mae Quinto breaks silence; asserts innocence amid arrest warrant No record of a 'Mary Grace Piattos' – PSA Palarong Pambansa awakens Diaz-Naranjo’s desire for 2028 Olympics stint What is the 4B movement and what does it mean for Filipinas? Joe Biden pardons his son Hunter. Do we pardon Joe Biden? COA cites jump in 2023 OVP travel costs MOST READ Russian sub in West PH Sea conducted no suspicious activities – AFP Sofronio Vasquez belts out 'If I Can Dream,' aims for 'The Voice' US Top 5 spot Second impeachment rap vs VP Duterte to be filed Wednesday – Bayan Earth tilted 31.5 inches due to massive groundwater pumping Follow @FMangosingINQ on Twitter --> View commentsPowered by Taya99-Taya99 slot games-Taya99 real money slots @2013-2022 RSS地图 HTML地图
