HE Ambassador of Canada to the State of Qatar Isabelle Marie Catherine Martin praised the visit of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to Canada as an occasion to highlight priorities for bilateral collaboration, especially as they are working together closely on a number of files. In an exclusive statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), HE the Ambassador said that Qatar has been a valuable and reliable partner for Canada in challenging times, expressing Canada's desire to deepen the economic and trade relationship with Qatar. There are promising opportunities in a range of sectors such as clean technologies, agriculture and agri-food, health and life sciences, and information technology. HE the Ambassador commended Qatar's support for her country in many fields, including Qatar Airways' role during the COVID-19 pandemic in helping bring home 15,000 Canadians from over ten countries between April and July 2020, in addition to Qatar's invaluable support in evacuating Canadians from Afghanistan in 2021. M artin said that HH the Amir's visit to Canada comes at an auspicious time, as 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and Qatar, with HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani being the first Head of State from the Gulf region to visit Canada in at least 30 years, demonstrating Canada's desire to deepen its partnership at the highest levels with Qatar. She added in May 2024, both countries formalized their commitment to this relationship by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for annual bilateral political consultations, with the first session held this past May in Doha, looking forward to continuing this productive partnership and building on it further. She pointed out that her country and Qatar also signed a Defense Cooperation Arrangement in 2021 to strengthen their bilateral defense relationship and provide an overarching framework for the coordination of various defense cooperation activities, including peace and humanitarian operations, and personnel training. She underlined that high-level visits, especially those at the leader-level, provide an invaluable opportunity to build personal rapport and trust, which in turn allows countries to identify new avenues for advancing shared priorities. It is also a fantastic opportunity for learning about available opportunities in Canada, highlighting in this regard her country's contribution in enhancing Qatar's capabilities in the field of food security. Regarding trade exchange, HE Ambassador of Canada to Qatar Isabelle Marie Catherine Martin told QNA that the level of trade between Canada and Qatar has been increasing at a modest pace, while saying that in 2023, Qatar was Canada's key trade partner with a bilateral merchandise trade total of about $427 million. Canada exported approximately $227.5 million worth of goods to Qatar including iron ores, aircraft trainers, electrical machinery, photographic and optical equipment, and pharmaceutical products. In 2022, commercial services trade (2022) between Canada and Qatar totaled $51 million. On future cooperation, HE the Ambassador said that Canada and Qatar are likeminded on many international issues, and there are ways they can join efforts to do good in the world. In the fields of development cooperation and humanitarian assistance, there are many opportunities to work together with partner organizations both globally and in third country contexts to advance the sustainable development goals (SDGs) such as access to education, assist those in conflict-affected situations and contribute to the economic empowerment of youth. HE the Ambassador added that there are also opportunities for Canada and Qatar to work more closely together in multilateral contexts. "For example, Canada and Qatar recently supported each other's bids for seats on the UN Human Rights Council, where we each seek to strengthen the protection of human rights globally. Additionally this year, we have a few collaborative events planned for UNGA High-level Week in New York, where ministers from our respect ive Governments will highlight our joint contributions to important initiatives being led by UNICEF and other UN agencies." ???? HE Ambassador of Canada to Qatar Isabelle Marie Catherine Martin noted that there are many opportunities for both countries to increase cooperation in infrastructure and construction, oil and gas, defense and security, and education. On her country's assessment to the Qatari role in mediation and peacemaking in a number of countries such as Palestine, Afghanistan, Sudan, Lebanon and others, HE Ambassador of Canada to Qatar Isabelle Marie Catherine Martin said that Qatar's ability to act as a mediator and peacemaker is rooted in its unique position of maintaining channels of communication with a diversity of actors, including state and non-state actors, which allows for the facilitation of difficult conversations during the most critical times, and makes Qatar an important partner for Canada, particularly in conflict resolution and regional stability. HE the Ambassador added: "Qatar 's diplomatic efforts whether in Gaza, Ukraine, Afghanistan, or beyond demonstrate its crucial role in addressing complex challenges and its efforts to promote peace in volatile regions," praising in the regard Qatar's efforts in securing the release of Canadian citizen Colin from Taliban captivity in 2016. Canada also thanks Qatar for having assisted in mediating the exit of Canadians and Canadian permanent residents out of Gaza in the midst of Israel-Hamas conflict, she said. Regarding positions on most regional and international issues, especially the situation in Gaza, the Canadian Ambassador said the two countries share similar core views, in that they both believe conflicts are best resolved through diplomacy rather than violence, and they both firmly believe that civilians should be spared from the fallout of war. Regarding Gaza, Canada continues to join Qatar and much of the international community in calling for a ceasefire, protection of civilians and increase humanitarian aid to those in need in th e Gaza Strip, she added. HE the Ambassador continued by saying that her led a group of countries in expressing significant concern with the many journalists killed as a result of the war in Gaza and calling on all parties to comply with international law and ensure the protection of journalists, adding that Qatar has similarly made this issue a priority through statements of its own, and by bringing many journalists to safety in Doha. Concluding her statement to QNA, HE Ambassador of Canada to Qatar Isabelle Marie Catherine Martin said that Canadian and Qatari positions are also aligned in situations such as Ukraine, where both countries have condemned Russian-Ukrainian war which has caused destruction and suffering for civilians. Both countries have engaged actively in international forums seeking to resolution to the war in Ukraine, including the most recent Peace Conference held this past spring in Switzerland, and through separate tracts are working to reunite Ukrainian children, who were illegally deport ed. (QNA) Source: Qatar News Agency