Xi, Kuwaiti emir exchange greetings on 50-year ties

China and Kuwait should use the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations as an opportunity to carry forward their traditional relationship and deepen cooperation in various areas within the framework of the Belt and Road, President Xi Jinping said on Monday.

In a message exchanged with Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to celebrate the 50th anniversary, Xi said that their bilateral traditional friendship is growing stronger as time goes by.

With the establishment of a strategic partnership in recent years, political mutual trust between the two countries is deepening and bilateral cooperation in various areas has yielded fruitful outcomes, he said.

The two nations also offer each other understanding and support over issues that are related to their respective core interests and major concerns and closely coordinate with each other over international and regional affairs, he said.

After the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, China and Kuwait stood in solidarity and fought together, epitomizing the high level of China-Kuwait relations, the president said.

Xi underscored that he attached great importance to the growth of relations with Kuwait, and he is willing to work with the Kuwaiti emir to bring more benefits to the two peoples.

The emir of Kuwait said in his message that the relations between the two nations, which are on a stable footing, keep growing and deepening.

The two nations are cooperating in multiple major programs and maintaining communication and coordination over international and regional issues within the framework of the strategic partnership, he said, adding that he looks forward to further enhancing bilateral ties and expanding cooperation in various areas.

Premier Li Keqiang also exchanged congratulatory messages with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah on Monday.

In his message, Li hailed the increasingly stronger political mutual trust, rich outcomes from bilateral cooperation in areas such as energy, infrastructure, finance and people-to-people exchanges and stable progress in joint building of the Belt and Road.

With mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples continuing to grow, Li said China is ready to work with Kuwait to enable greater progress from the bilateral strategic partnership.

The Kuwaiti prime minister lauded the bilateral friendship as solid, close and yielding rich outcomes, saying that the nation hopes to work with China to comprehensively promote their strategic relations.