Malta and Qatar have agreed to explore joint action to increase  cooperation between the two countries in the fields of  energy, pharmaceuticals, finance, sports medicine, community sports facilities and sports academies, a government statement said.

The two countries also agreed that it is in the interest of small states to cooperate together on a political and economic level to further promote the interests of their citizens.

Qatar Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Thani welcomed Foreign and European Affairs Minister Evarist Bartolo in Qatar's capital city, Doha.

Minister Bartolo and Deputy Prime Minister Al-Thani agreed that Qatar could share Malta’s experience in furthering Qatar’s relations with European countries. Minister Bartolo and Deputy Prime Minister Al-Thani said that the world must learn from the mistakes made in Afghanistan and that all Afghan sides are to be present on the negotiating table to seek a peaceful solution. It is in everyone's interest, Minister Bartolo and Qatar Deputy Prime Minister agreed, not to allow Libya  become another Afghanistan and that Libyans be helped by the international community to lead themselves in the full interest of the Libyan people.

Bartolo was accompanied by Parliamentary Secretary for Sports, Recreation and Voluntary Organisations Clifton Grima who visited educational and sports academic facilities in the country with the aim of increasing co-operation in the field of sports between the two countries. Minister Bartolo and Parliamentary Secretary Grima met with Qatar Minister for Sport and Youth Salah Bin Ghanim Al Ali. Parliamentary Secretary Clifton Grima said the two countries can learn from each other's practices and discussed ways that can improve the sports sector in Malta through administrative collaboration.

Bartolo also attended the Qatar National Day celebrations held in Doha..