April 24: President Ram Chandra Paudel has urged Qatar to deepen cooperation between Nepal and Qatar on issues of common interests like saving the earth from the impacts of climate change, protecting the Himalayas, preserving the sources of water, and maintaining environmental balance.    
President Paudel said so at a meeting with the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at the Office of the President in Shital Niwas on Tuesday.    
The Emir of the State of Qatar arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday afternoon on a two-day state visit to Nepal at the invitation of President Paudel.    
"The common challenge of today's world is saving the earth from climate change; protecting our Himalayas; preserving the source of water and maintaining the environmental balance. Cooperation of all is imperative in these areas. This is an issue of human existence. I consider mostly the developing countries should be more serious in such issues,” President's press advisor Kiran Pokharel quoted President Paudel as saying.    
The president also said that the conflict in the Middle East has 'made us worried', Pokharel told the RSS.    
Likewise, President Paudel praised the role played by Qatar for peace building and wished for the end to the war and restoration of peace in the Middle East.     
On the occasion, the Emir of the State of Qatar Al Thani said the entire world is suffering from climate change impacts, and good results will come and a good environment will be created if all abided by the international agreements on climate change.     
He also expressed the confidence that his visit would be fruitful to explore new areas of cooperation by further deepening Nepal-Qatar relations.    
Furthermore, the Emir of Qatar praised Nepali migrant workers stating that they have huge contributions to the development of Qatar.    
The Emir of Qatar Al Thani viewed that new possibilities could be explored for investments in water resources, agriculture, tourism and other sectors in Nepal.    
On the occasion, President Paudel also expressed the confidence that the agreement and memorandum of understanding to be reached on Wednesday would unleash new potentials for investment in the areas such as water resource, agriculture and tourism in Nepal.    
Noting that Nepal and Qatar have ever enjoyed cordial bilateral relations, President Paudel clarified that the relations between Nepal and Qatar are bound by the sense of friendship, mutual respect, trust and goodwill.    
There has been a tradition of exchange of high-level visits between the two countries in a regular way which he claimed had played spectacular role in expanding the bilateral relations.    
The historical visit has taken the Nepal-Qatar relations to a new height, he further said.    
Noting that Nepal has moved towards the journey of economic development and prosperity now with the agenda of political transformation of late, he expressed his belief that there would be continuous support from Qatar to Nepal's efforts towards attaining development and prosperity.    
President Paudel further expressed his optimism that the bilateral cooperation and collaboration would be further deepened in coming days in the context when there are arrays of potential for partnership in trade, tourism and investment areas.    
Qatar has been a prime and attractive destination of foreign employment for Nepali workers and Nepali workforce has also substantially contributed in the making of modern Qatar, he recalled.    
Expressing happiness over the sustainable development and prosperity of Qatar under the visionary leadership of the Emir, President Paudel lauded his far-reaching thinking and unswerving commitment to make Qatar a highly-developed nation. -- RSS