DOHA, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Qatar and the European Union exchanged views on enhancing investment and economic opportunities amid a siege Doha is suffering, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported Wednesday.
The discussion came at a meeting between Qatari Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani and the EU's ambassadors to the Gulf country on Tuesday.
During the meeting, Al-Thani highlighted the strategic ties between Qatar and the EU, which is considered the second largest partner of the tiny gas-rich state.
The Qatari minister also overviewed the economic challenges his country has met since the blockade was imposed last June.
''Despite the unjust blockade which aims at undermining Qatar's position as an economically independent and sovereign state, Qatar has succeeded in strengthening its position and independence more than ever before,'' he said.
The siege has prompted Qatar to explore more opportunities to open to more countries by developing direct trade lines with a number of strategic ports, Al-Thani added.
In January, the EU High Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini called on all parties to enter into negotiations during her visit to Kuwait.
A month later, Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri, the chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, called on the EU to support efforts for an immediate end to the siege imposed on Qatar during his visit to France.
In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt severed diplomatic ties as well as all air, sea and land links to Qatar, accusing the gas-rich Gulf state of supporting terrorism and aligning with Iran against Arab interests, which Doha has repeatedly denied, calling such islolation "diplomatically unjustified."
