New Delhi, Feb. 19 -- India and Qatar on Tuesday elevated their ties to a strategic partnership and agreed to double bilateral trade to almost $30 billion by 2030 as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Qatari Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, focused on ways to enhance trade and energy cooperation.

The two leaders met to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues, including the Israel-Hamas conflict, shortly after Sheikh Tamim was accorded a ceremonial welcome by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Modi personally received the Amir on his arrival in Delhi on Monday, signalling the importance attached by India to the bilateral relationship.

Modi said on X that he had a "very productive meeting with my brother", She...