SINGAPORE: Kuwait and Singapore on Wednesday held the first round of their bilateral consultations at the level of senior officials in the ministries of foreign affairs of the two countries. Kuwait’s Embassy in Singapore said in a statement that the Kuwaiti side was headed during the consultations by Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs Ambassador Samih Hayat, while the Singaporean side was headed by Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Asia-Pacific Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, Kevin Cheuk.

During the consultations, they reviewed bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and ways to strengthen and develop them in all areas of common interest. They discussed preparations for the 40th anniversary of the establishment and start of bilateral diplomatic relations between the two countries, which will be next year, and other important developments at the regional and international levels.

The two sides confirmed their aspiration to hold the work of the first session of the Joint Committee at the level of foreign ministers in the near future. Ambassador Hayat delivered a written letter from Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya to his Singaporean counterpart, Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, which included an official invitation to visit Kuwait. The meeting was attended by the Kuwait Ambassador to Singapore, Ahmed Al-Shuraim, and the non-resident ambassador of Singapore to Kuwait, Zain Al-Abidin Rashid, in addition to other officials from both sides. — KUNA