Russia views cooperation with Qatar within GECF to protect gas exporters' interests as crucial - Russian first deputy PM

DOHA. March 17 (Interfax) - Russia and Qatar are interested in coordinating efforts to cooperate in the energy sector, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov told reporters on Sunday following his visit to Doha.

He said that Russia and Qatar "are long-standing partners in the hydrocarbons sector."

"We are working together as part of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum [GECF], which is headquartered in Doha. We are attaching great importance to enhancing our partnership within this association in order to coordinate efforts to promote gas exporters' legitimate interests on the global energy markets," Manturov said.

As reported earlier this week, Russian Deputy Energy Minister Roman Marshavin and Qatari Ambassador to Russia Ahmed Nasser Al-Thani discussed cooperation within the GECF, joint efforts to protect the interests of gas exporters on the global energy markets, specifically developing new financial tools and cooperation in the energy sector.

Qatar is one of the three largest exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG) along with the United States and Australia.