KUWAIT: The exhibition on ‘Kuwait-Belgian Relations in Pictures’ which opened at the Kuwait National Library on Sunday, documented the 60th anniversary of the distinguished relations between Kuwait and the Kingdom of Belgium. The exhibition, which was held under the auspices of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Literature and Shaikha Hala Badr Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

It was attended by the Belgian Ambassador to the country, Christian Domes, and the Director of the Kuwait National Library, Siham Al-Azmi. The exhibition put on display more than 30 pictures from the personal collection of the Kuwaiti researcher Issa Dashti, of the most important Kuwaiti-Belgian historical relation.

The exhibition presented three booklets issued by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters documenting various aspects of bilateral relations. They are considered the first of their kind in this field, as they constitute important sources for researchers and those interested in studying these bilateral relations. In this regard, researcher Issa Dashti told KUNA that Kuwait’s relationship with Belgium has become clear that it is older than 60 years, especially after finding some British documents that talk about the participation of the tenth ruler of Kuwait, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, in offering condolences for the death of the former King of Belgium.

Guests take a tour of the exhibition.

He stated that Kuwait was a stopover for some Belgian ambassadors to the countries of the region during their travel trips, noting that these documents give us an indication and proof of the strong relationship between the two friendly countries.

For her part, the patron of the exhibition, Sheikha Hala Badr Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, said in a similar statement to KUNA that Kuwait has friendships and relations with many countries, including the Kingdom of Belgium, indicating that this exhibition is a ‘thank you’ to Belgium for its support and honorable positions with Kuwait and an attempt to shed light on bilateral relations.

In turn, Director of the Kuwait National Library Siham Al-Azmi said that the exhibition contains beautiful pictures of cultural and diplomatic relations between the two friendly countries, indicating that the library seeks to activate a cooperation protocol with Belgium in the field of libraries in particular and in the field of culture and arts in general.

Al-Azmi added, “We are about to celebrate Kuwait as the Capital of Arab Culture in 2025, and accordingly we seek to have a set of cultural cooperation protocols with many sisterly and friendly countries.” — KUNA