The two sides will discuss widening Russian-Qatari cooperation in the gas industry, including in the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) format.

"Russia and Qatar pay special attention to the GECF becoming an efficient international organization, which aims to protect rights and interests of producers and consumers, to render greater transparency and stability to the global energy market," the spokesman said.

Qatar is interested in a project to build an LNG plant on the Yamal Peninsula in the Russian Arctic jointly with Russia's Novatek. In July, Qatar invited Gazprom EP International to take part in a tender for oil and gas projects in Qatar.

"There are good prerequisites for establishing ties between Russian and Qatari financial institutions with further setting up of joint investment funds and banks. The first step along this way will be the signing of a memorandum of mutual understanding between VTB (bank) and Qatar Holding LLC," the spokesman said.

The discussions will also focus on the situation in the Middle East, the Russia-Gulf Cooperation Council strategic dialogue, the Iranian nuclear program, and the situation in Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan and Yemen.