Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                       10 August 2017

Out-going ambassador of Belgium to Qatar Christophe Payot has said that ‘Belgium looks forward to an early solution to an end of Qatar blocked by some of the GCC States and Egypt. Belgium fully support Kuwaiti mediation as European Union stresses on dialogue for the peaceful outcome. Belgium envoy was addressing at his farewell dinner hosted by Pakistani community and organised by renowned current affairs analyst and a social worker Ashraf Siddiqui and Doha born Pakistani business community member Saleem Bangash.

Belgium envoy thanked Pakistani community for hosting a memorable evening in his honour. He recalled his early years of his diplomatic career’s first posting in Islamabad. Belgium envoy regarded that as very pleasant and unforgettable. Ambassador Christophe Payot specially thanked Ashraf Siddiqui (Editor www.asiantelegraphqatar.com) & a freelance journalist in Qatar for his services and support to Belgium business community and him during his tenure of three years in Qatar.

Talking about his tenure as ambassador to Qatar, Belgium envoy thanked people and leadership of State of Qatar being so hospitable. he said that there are so many and large diversified activities in the fields of politics, culture, sports where it keeps busy as well as provides an opportunity having inter-action at all levels and with the number of different communities living in Qatar.

Earlier, Ashraf Siddiqui paid his thanks to all the guests for joining him to bid farewell to the out-going Belgium envoy to State of Qatar Christophe Payot. He said that it’s exactly a week from then that Pakistani community will be celebrating 70th Independence Day of Pakistan and Belgium is among the first countries to recognise and establish diplomatic relations in 1948. Siddiqui said that both the countries Belgium and Pakistan enjoys close bilateral trade relations and a significant increase in trade is seen during last few years. Bilateral trade volume between both the states was recorded around 900 million US dollars as per 2015 figures, in which Pakistani exports were around 700 million dollars. Siddiqui also recalled and said that Pakistani people will never forget people of Belgium help in time of natural disasters in Pakistan specially in 2005 earthquake and later in 2010 flood disaster.

Ashraf Siddiqui, on behalf of Pakistani community wished ambassador Christophe all success in his career and a wonderful happy life.

He paid special thanks to AlHaj Mohammad Din, in his age 105 years for making the event memorable. He also paid special thanks to Pakistani Olympian of Hockey, (1984 Los Angeles), Gold Medalist Khaled Hameed, he is serving as Manager Pakistan International Airlines, Qatar and to renowned Philippines Artists Gordon Lee.

Among guests included Air Marshal M Basri, Ambassador of Indonesia, Prof. Ranmesh Koirala,  Ambassador of Nepal,  Soonthorn Chaiyindeepum, Ambassador of Thailand,   Munir Ghanem, Ambassador of Palestine,  Teyseer Bey, Ambassador of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, John Rodney, Charge d’ Affaires of Canada,  Namik Cafer, Office of  TRNC  in Qatar,  Syatir Talib,  Embassy of Malaysia,   Mehmed Zingal, General Manager Turkish Airlines,  Uttam Gurung, Nepali Business Community, Sagar Nepal, renowned Nepalese community leader and former Vice President Int’l Nepalese Forum, Rana Anwar Ali, Chairman, AlKhor Pakistani Community, Dr. Tariq Masud, Chairman, Dukhan Pakistani Community  and Engineer Arshad Hussain, Pakistan Welfare Forum Qatar.

Saleem Bangash, thanked all the guests for joining at the farewell reception in honour of Belgium ambassador Christophe Payot and special thanks were paid to the management of Hotel Shangrila Doha on the arrangements.