Qatar and China Pledge Deeper Ties Amid Regional Tensions

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has wrapped up a two-day visit to Beijing, with both sides describing their relationship as entering a new golden decade. China described Qatar as an important strategic partner in the Middle East and Gulf region, and the two countries agreed to broaden cooperation in energy, investment and advanced technology.

The talks took place against the backdrop of the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran and Qatar's continuing efforts to mediate between Tehran and Washington. A Qatari Foreign Ministry official told reporters in Doha that the current state of neither war nor peace was unacceptable for the region and its people, adding that Qatar was working closely with partners, including China, to explore new diplomatic approaches.

Beijing said it would step up communication and coordination with Doha to support efforts to restore regional peace and stability. Qatar also said it would prioritise energy supplies to China despite ongoing difficulties.

Disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has heightened the stakes for both nations. Qatar is among the world's largest exporters of liquefied natural gas, while China is the world's biggest importer of crude oil, giving both a strong interest in restoring stability to the strait, which normally carries about a fifth of global oil and LNG shipments.

Energy remains central to the relationship. China is Qatar's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $23.8bn last year. Qatar is China's second-largest LNG supplier, providing 19.4 million tonnes in 2025. QatarEnergy has signed 27-year LNG supply deals with Chinese state firms CNPC and Sinopec, both of which have also taken stakes in Qatar's North Field gas expansion project.