Qatari emir ratifies int'l cooperation deals amid diplomatic, trade siege

DOHA, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani ratified a number of international cooperation agreements in various fields, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported Wednesday.

On the economic front, the agreements involve cooperation and assistance in customs-related matters between the governments of Qatar and India, as well as economic cooperation between Qatar and Poland.

The Qatari emir also ratified an agreement on cooperation and exchange of information and services between QNA and Kazakhstan's Kazinform INA news agency.

Moreover, his instruments of ratification cover cultural, education, health and immigration sectors, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation between Qatar and Turkey in high education, and a deal on visa exemption and collaboration in health and medical sciences between Qatar and Sri Lanka.

Since June 5, 2017, Qatar has been going through a blockade imposed by the Saudi-led Arab countries, which have cut all air, land and sea links to the tiny gas-rich Gulf nation.

Doha, however, has been opening up new markets and diversifying its economy to cushion the impacts of the unprecedented diplomatic and trade siege. Enditem