KUWAIT: President of Lebanon Joseph Aoun and his accompanying delegation arrived on Sunday in Kuwait on an official visit to the country. He was received at the airport by HH the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

National Guard Chief Sheikh Mubarak Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, Acting Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Shareeda Al-Maousherji, Defense Minister and Acting Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah Ali Al-Sabah, Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya and senior state officials were also among those who welcomed the Lebanese president.

Aoun extolled Beirut’s “deep-rooted” relations with Kuwait, saying these ties are based on mutual respect and cooperation across various fields. Expressing his “pleasure” to respond to HH the Amir’s invitation, the Lebanese president told KUNA that his official visit to Kuwait typified the “historic and brotherly” relations that Kuwait and Beirut share. He added the Lebanese people were immensely grateful for Kuwait’s persistent support, particularly at a time when Beirut is in the throes of adversity, citing that his visit should give impetus to a raft of fresh bilateral agreements.

On issues he plans on discussing with HH the Amir, Aoun said existential challenges amid “trying circumstances” and matters of mutual concern were on top of the agenda. The Lebanese president’s visit to Kuwait should be instrumental in ushering in new growth in bilateral relations, while paving the way for broader cooperation between the two nations, he added. — KUNA