In a move that will likely mean exciting performances, wider cuisine options and other features, Qatar and China have signed an agreement to become partners for the 2016 Year of Culture program, QNA reports.
The idea of the tie-up was discussed during the Emir’s visit to China in November, and made official over the weekend by Qatar’s Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, when he met with the Asian country’s Cultural Minister Luo Shugang in Beijing.
During the meeting, Al Kuwari expressed his appreciation for the rich culture of China and the depth of the historical relations between Arabs and the Chinese.
More details about upcoming cultural events have yet to be disclosed.
But if the 2016 agreement follows in the footsteps of previous cultural tie-ups (Qatar-Japan, Qatar-UK, Qatar-Brazil, Qatar-Turkey), exhibitions, film screenings and concerts will likely be held in both countries next year.
China is Qatar’s fifth partner in an initiative launched by Qatar Museums to build cultural ties between Qatar’s residents and other countries around the world.
In a statement on its website following, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said:
“China supports the holding of China-Qatar Cultural Year in 2016 to push forward bilateral people-to-people and cultural exchanges…Qatar will work with China to well organize activities of the Qatar-China Cultural Year in 2016 and deepen friendship between the two peoples.”
The statement also touched on the growing political ties between the two nations, and mentioned China’s desire to deepen its defense relationship with Qatar.
In October of last year, the Deputy Minister of Culture of China hailed the support given by Qatar to the Arab activities held in China, particularly, the Sino-Arab Forum.
Growing business ties
In the past several years, Qatar and China have bolstered their economic and political ties.
In May 2014 for example, China replaced the US as Qatar’s top exporter, replacing the US in terms of origin country for total imports into Qatar during the month.
Trade between the two countries grew in the last few years from $8.5 billion in 2012 to $10 billion in 2013, mostly on the strength of energy exports – namely natural gas – from Qatar, as well as Chinese shipments of electronics and building materials to the Gulf.
In terms of natural gas, Qatar Petroleum signed a deal in 2010 with PetroChina and Shell to explore and produce an 8,100-square-kilometer gas field near Ras Laffan.
A year later, the three companies entered into an agreement to build a petrochemicals and refining complex in Zhejiang province in east China.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund received special permission as a foreign entity in 2012 to invest in China’s capital markets.
And, boosting the number of Chinese expats in Qatar, which apparently numbered only 6,000 in 2013, “Dragon Mart” opened its doors to the public last summer.
Several thousand nationals from China were expected to move here to man the dozens of shops that sell a variety of merchandise there, including groceries, furniture, phones and clothes.
Thoughts?
Well we know who’s going to win that one.
Lucky for China, several countries are queuing to win the privilege
Do you know who they beat?
Countries with less culture like italy and France 🙂
Actually that is true, Chinese history in terms of civilisation predates those two.
Dude I’m being sarcastic
Cue comments regarding Orion, the Waterhole among others……
More Chinese girls on the way hopefully!
Deleting all prostitution references…
Why? It is the reality in Doha like every other city in the world. Raddison Blu owned by an Al Thani permits it to take place, the Sheraton was renowned for it. It is abuse of woman taking place with the consent of the ruling family. Isn’t journalism about highlighting the truth ? Why not allow discussion to take place. Why not investigate it and highlight it? Who knows how many of these poor woman get raped, with no ability to protect themselves or report to police. They are vulnerable in every sense. Or is it ok in the eyes of DN team?
So are you claiming the ruling family hires chinese prostitues and pimps them out? Or are you saying one hotel which is owned by a member of the ruling family yet operated and managed by a global brand happens to have a bar where chinese prosituties choose to walk in and wait for lonely angry men like you to pick them up is now govt issue?
Your reasoning is very unsound sir. I am not claiming at all that the ruling family are pimps, I am saying that the abuse of vulnerable woman happens in a business owned by a member of the family. It is well known and surely he knows and should take action, be accountable and responsible legally and morally. Of course it is the responsibility of the government to address not only illegal behaviour but also abuse of vulnerable persons on their soil, but then again look at the labourers and the road carnage so maybe Qatar is very different in this aspect. I am saying that perhaps DN should expose the abuse of these vulnerable people like the fourth estate should, not continually shut down any talk of it. Perhaps you sir as a citizen and presumably a muslim should take a stand and raise the issue in the appropriate circles to prevent the exploitation if these woman? Also Ive noted your unfounded attack on me, and would challenge you to a battle of wits, but I don’t like to battle with persons who are not as armed as I.
Sounds like someone over charged you
This is about vulnerable people in your country and you make it an attack on me. You sir truly are without shame, humanity or compassion.
This is about vulnerable people who rather than make a stand for you in your usual ill character make it an attack on the royal family as in all your posts you have an obsession with attacking Qatar on baseless grounds .. The most recent accusing the royal family of being pimps and then looping back trying to take the moral high ground by showing concern for the plight of women.. So go feed your bull elsewhere
I see no pimping accusations, but the point OO raises is a valid one. Presumably the owner of this hotel in particular has the power to end it on his or her property with the stroke of pen, unlike at other establishments. Yet a blind eye is turned. The advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Why? As was mentioned, it is unlikely to be financial.
That’s not accurate. The property owner receives an annual rental fee from the Radisson Hotel Group. Plus he may have negotiated a take in the hotela net profits, 10% to 15%. However he is not in charge of the day to day management of the hotel, the selection of resturants and bars and what they charge clients. All that is under the control of the Radisson Hotel.
Unless the police interfer and order whatever bar shut, the Radisson is free of any charge against it and therefore the real estate owner has no right to interfer.
If anyone is able to shut the bar down its the American based Radisson Blu Hotel who operates and manages the hotel and all its resturants and bars. So why don’t you write them an email shaing your concern and see if they take any action.
On another note, what Dohanews is missing is a neo-feminist, who would strongly argue that women choosing this profession is not up for either of us to deny. I don’t endorse it and believe it is wrong but not all women in this profession are forced into to. Most are, but the Chinese ladies in Doha are all here on tourist visas. Many made this choice as a source of income and are not necessarily forced into it by any pimp or gang. As much as I believe it is wrong I can’t force what I think on a person who chooses to become an adult star, exotic dancer or escorts.
I am sure the member of the royal family are not involved as its peanuts for them, but who gets them visas?
Tourist visas… Then they hope to Bahrain for two hours and back again.. Or they’re sponosered by the mang message shops and hair saloons.. For a monthly fee to the Chinese shop manager they can go out and “free lance” and for a monthly fee the chinese manager pays the qatari Jaleel to keep to himself and
Deleting this for complete irrelevance to the article above. Please read the comment policy.
So you know it is true! Still waiting on the DN expose on this subject.
I remember dealing with one hotel over an event here and I mentioned at the end the open prostitution in one of their bars. I expected the lady to deny it, but went on to say they had a big debate about it internally but decided to do nothing as it brought in so much money!!
I’m a bit surprised by this, Sepp Bellend Blatter was confident FIFA would win the nomination this year….