10 April 2015 – As part of his series of farewell calls, Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Crescente R. Relacion met with the Director of the Asian Affairs Department of Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yousef Bin Khalifa Abdullah Al-Sada, on March 29 to convey his appreciation for Ambassador Al-Sada’s support and assistance to the Embassy which goes way back when the latter was previously the Director of the International Organizations and Conferences Department.

Ambassador Relacion also mentioned to Ambassador Al-Sada that during the former’s farewell call on the Emir last March 22, the Emir conveyed his interest for President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to visit Qatar and issue a formal invitation.

The Philippine Ambassador also conveyed DFA Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario’s interest in visiting Qatar during the second half of 2015 and of the possibility to convene a Joint Ministerial Commission as provided under the MOU on the Establishment of a Joint Ministerial Commission for Bilateral Cooperation, which was signed on 10 March 1997.

Ambassador Al-Sada expressed his agreement and proposed that the Joint Commission be convened at the Undersecretary level. “There is much opportunity for closer cooperation between Philippines and Qatar and this proposal to convene a Philippines-Qatar Joint Commission could open those opportunities,” Ambassador Al-Sada said. Both sides agreed to cooperate on these initiatives even after Ambassador Relacion’s departure. END