Bulgarian president Georgi Purvanov, accompanied by his wife Zorka Purvanova, was on an official visit in Qatar, Bulgarian National Radio BNR reported. The visit would take place on November 7-8.

This was the first summit visit in the history of the bilateral Bulgarian-Qatari relations, established in 1990.

The main goals of the visit were to establish political dialogue between the two countries in all areas of common interest, activating economic cooperation and extending the bilateral relations in all areas of common interest, including the cultural and social spheres.

The schedule of the visit included meetings with sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, emir of Qatar, and with Mohammad bin Mubarak Al-Khulaifi, spokesperson of the Qatari Consultative Council (Parliament), a media statement by the president's press office said. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani would be awarded the Stara Planina order for his help in freeing Bulgarian medics from Libya and bringing them back to Bulgaria.

A treaty to mutually stimulate and protect investments and a memorandum of an agreement on co-operation between foreign ministries of the two countries would be signed, along with other treaties in the sphere of culture, sports and commerce.

Additionally, the president would meet members of the Bulgarian community in Qatar.