Mayor of the City of Charleston and Charleston Sister Cities International (CSCI) Honorary Chairman, John Tecklenburg shakes hand of State of Qatar Ambassador Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al-Thani at Sister City Partnership Signing in Charleston City Hall as CSCI President and CEO Neita A. Wiese and Charleston City Councilman Kevin Shealy look on.
Charleston, South Carolina—A year after signing their official partnership with Doha, Qatar, Charleston Sister Cities International looks forward to collaborating on cultural exchanges and initiatives with Qatar in honor of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) announcing the Qatar-US 2021 Year of Culture signed by the United States and Qatar on September 14, 2020.
The Qatar-US 2021 Year of Culture is intended to enhance cultural exchange and exemplifies the renewed commitment of the two nations to foster mutual understanding and promote inter-cultural dialogue.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised the range and depth of the growing Qatar-US relationship saying, "The MoU emphasizes that our partnership has grown beyond just defense and economics into one of true friendship and community between our people and our two countries".
HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said the signing of the MoU for the Qatar-US 2021 Year of Culture, along with an MoU with the United States Agency for International Development and Qatar's support for Fulbright scholarships, reflect the range and depth of ties between the two countries.
In response of the agreement, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums said "we celebrate culture, sports, business, education, music and much more. I look forward to working on building the existing strong relationship between our nations and explore new opportunities together".
In honor of the Qatar-US 2021 Year of Culture, Charleston Sister Cities International President & CEO and Sister Cities International designated Qatar Representative, Neita A. Wiese states, "We look forward to collaborating with the State of Qatar, the Embassy of the State of Qatar to the US, the United States Embassy to Qatar and related Qatar cultural organizations—both in Qatar and the United States—to facilitate cultural exchanges between Doha, Qatar and Charleston, South Carolina in areas of art, education, tourism, and sports throughout 2021".
An official Sister City partnership was signed October 21, 2019 by the State of Qatar Ambassador to the United States, HE Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al-Thani and Charleston Sister Cities International Honorary Chair, Mayor John Tecklenburg.
A Charleston Sister Cities International Doha Committee delegation was slated to visit Doha, Qatar earlier this Spring, and due to COVID-19 has been postponed to 2021.
