The Emir of Qatar held talks with Indonesia yesterday, more than four months into a Saudi-led blockade against the Gulf emirate.
The two-day visit by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, seen here with Indonesian President Joko Widodo during a tree-planting ceremony at the presidential palace in Bogor, West Java, yesterday, comes amid heightened Gulf tensions.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Qatar on June 5 over its alleged support of extremism, charges that Doha denies. Yesterday's talks focused on investment and trade opportunities in energy, infrastructure and tourism.
But the Emir said the two leaders also discussed the "unjust siege" of his country by neighbouring Gulf states. "We have also reminded the (Indonesian) President that Qatar is always ready for dialogue to find a solution to this issue, because there is no winner in this problem," the Emir said through an Arabic interpreter. He led a delegation of 40 businessmen, who also accompanied him to Malaysia and Singapore.
