<p>Relations between the Welsh and Qatari Governments</p>

Part of 3. 3. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 2:30 pm on 7 June 2017.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 2:30, 7 June 2017

I think, as I’ve said in answer to the questions this afternoon, this is about commercial relationships—commercial investment relationships—with Qatar. And the Member, of course, is fully aware—and we’ve spoken of it this afternoon—of those substantial investments, including, here in Wales, the LNG terminal at Milford Haven, as well as in other parts of the UK. So, it is those commercial investment relationships that we are talking about, and that is clearly what the First Minister said in his statement on 3 May. He very clearly said this is about commercial ties and it is about opportunities, which were, actually, at the time when it was announced, warmly welcomed in terms of that opportunity with Cardiff Airport and, of course, with Qatar Airways. We’ve said already, and we said at the time, and, indeed, it was said certainly in this Chamber, that this was a huge boost for Wales, providing that direct route into the world’s fastest-growing hub airport and opening up Wales’s links with the rest of the world. It is a commercial relationship, and, of course, as I’ve said, we now need to take stock and be very clearly aware of the developments. But I think my answer to Mohammad Asghar also said that we need to look very carefully now at what can be achieved in terms of restoring that unity, particularly in terms of gulf co-operation, and be very clear about our human rights message here in Wales, which I’ve already stated.