Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha held talks with her Qatari counterpart in Seoul on Friday and discussed strengthening bilateral relations.

During talks with Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Kang said in opening remarks that South Korea and Qatar have shared a long standing relationship that has been beneficial to both sides.

She hoped the Qatari minister’s visit to Seoul will further develop that relationship.

Minister Al Thani, who is also his country's deputy prime minister, meanwhile said the two countries have forged a mutually beneficial and constructive relationship for dozens of years.

He particularly noted cooperation in the energy sector and expressed hope the two sides can expand cooperation in other fields as well.

He also congratulated Korea's Liberation Day this past Wednesday as well as achievements made in inter-Korean relations, and hoped that such outcome will contribute to boosting stability on the Korean Peninsula.

The two ministers also discussed substantive ways to expand bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on Korean Peninsula and Middle Eastern affairs.