ISTANBUL 

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani hailed US President Donald Trump’s visit to Doha on Wednesday as “historic,” affirming that it marks a turning point in the strategic relationship between the two countries.

“We had a couple of hours of a great meeting with the president, and we discussed many issues on our great bilateral relationship and the situation in the region,” Al-Thani said during the signing ceremony for several agreements between the two countries.

“I think after signing these documents, we are going to another level of relationship between Qatar and the US.”

The two countries signed a number of key agreements in various fields, particularly in the defense and aviation sectors.

In the aviation field, Qatar signed a $200 billion deal to purchase jets from US manufacturer Boeing.

On defense, the two sides signed a statement of intent on enhanced defense cooperation alongside letters of offer and acceptance for the acquisition of MQ-9B unmanned aerial vehicles and the FS-LIDS air defense system.

A joint declaration of cooperation was also signed between the two countries.

“I just wanted to thank you, Mr. President, again for this historic visit,” said Al-Thani.

Later, the Qatari Emir held an official dinner banquet in honor of Trump and his accompanying delegation at the Lusail Palace, said the Amiri Diwan, the administrative office of the Emir.

During the event, Al-Thani delivered a speech in which he highlighted the close cooperation between the two countries in many fields, especially energy.

He referred to the Golden Pass project to receive Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) which will be launched in the US during Trump’s presidency and will provide the United States and other countries with LNG, in addition to the Golden Triangle Project, which will also be launched in the same presidential period.

The Emir stressed the keenness of Qatar and the US and their peoples “to establish peace in the region and the world, noting the joint diplomatic efforts of the two countries to stop the war in the Gaza Strip, work to protect all civilians, especially women and children, and ensure the release of all hostages,” added the Amiri Diwan.

The banquet was attended by the Emir’s wife, Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al-Thani.

It was also attended by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani and a number of ministers, sheikhs, dignitaries, senior state officials and businessmen.

Earlier, the Qatari Emir said his country is working with Trump to promote peace.

“We can continue to work together to bring peace to our region or other regions, such as peace between Russia and Ukraine,” he said during his meeting with Trump in Doha.

Trump’s visit to Doha is part of a Gulf tour that began Tuesday in Saudi Arabia and is scheduled to conclude Friday in the United Arab Emirates.

His visit to Qatar is the first by a US president to the Gulf country since George W. Bush’s visit in 2003.