The board in London was taken completely by surprise by this move. Financial Times does not see this as a positive but rather Qatar trying to broaden its global base and get a foot into the China market by stealth AND a money laundering exercise by Kingford who sold all it's shares having decided CX was a lost cause under Swire control.
Qatar already owns 20% of IAG ( BA, IB, EI ) and is now the largest single entity in One World.