OREANDA-NEWS. March 24, 2010. The two officials intend to discuss the current situation and development prospects for a friendly Russian-Qatari relationship, as well as a number of acute international and regional problems. Notably, they will focus on ways to promote trade, economic and investment cooperation between Russia and Qatar, primarily in the energy sector and specifically within the context of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF). Mr Putin and Mr Al Thani will also discuss investment cooperation, including the creation of joint funds and consortiums to attract Qatari capital to Russia and vice versa. Their agenda also includes talks on cooperating in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, satellite navigation, telecommunications, and other areas, as well as developing ties between the Russian and Qatari business communities.

-The two prime ministers may also discuss Russia's interaction with the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (CCASG), Middle East issues, Iran's nuclear status, and Iraq.

-Diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Qatar were established on August 2, 1988, and on December 26, 1991 Qatar officially recognised Russia. Relations between them have been developing consistently and dynamically. They maintain regular political dialogue on key international and regional problems, especially the situation in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region. They also actively promote their relations in energy at both the bilateral and multilateral levels, including within OPEC, the GECF, and the "big gas troika" of Russia, Iran and Qatar.

The GECF is headquartered in Doha, the capital of Qatar. Russia's Leonid Bokhanovsky was elected secretary-general of the GECF at its ninth ministerial meeting in December 2009.