Doha: The Qatar National Day (QND) is an important occasion that highlights the country's history and development since its founding and a time for both citizens and residents to reflect on Qatar's progress and achievements, as well as its ongoing efforts to meet the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV2030), HE Ambassador of Australia to the State of Qatar Shane Flanagan told Qatar News Agency (QNA).
According to Qatar News Agency, the day brings people together in recognition of the country's growth, stability, and contributions to the wider region, Flanagan underlined, noting that Australia continues to stand with Qatar and supports its efforts to maintain security and stability in the region.
Flanagan further added that the State of Qatar plays an influential role on the international stage, and that its commitment to dialogue and mediation has contributed to progress in a number of regional and global challenges.
He noted the efforts Qatar is undertaking to help mediate the Israel-Hamas conflict, which demonstrates its continued commitment to promoting peace and achieving humanitarian outcomes, expressing his country's appreciation for Qatar's ongoing efforts in supporting ceasefire initiatives and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
The development of the State of Qatar, guided by QNV2030, reflects careful planning and investment aimed at building a diversified and sustainable economy, Flanagan pointed out.
Flanagan outlined that Qatar has made progress in several areas such as infrastructure, education, health, and technology, while at the same time preserving its cultural identity, citing projects like Hamad International Airport and the Doha Metro, in addition to hosting major events such as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which highlight the scale of Qatar's transformation and its growing international presence.
Regarding the Qatar-Australia relationship, Flanagan elaborated that the two countries continue to build a strong and forward-looking partnership, with cooperation spanning areas such as food security, industry, renewable energy, and education.
The recently concluded partnership between Swinburne University of Technology and Barzan University College will allow Qatari students to obtain Australian qualifications in fields such as cybersecurity, software development, artificial intelligence, and engineering, he reminded.
These programs, he emphasized, support Qatar's focus on developing skills needed for the future and align closely with QNV2030 objectives.