ShareBy Faten Omar
KUWAIT: Chinese Ambassador to Kuwait Zhang Jianwei described the upcoming visit of HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the opening of the Asian Games as a historic event for China that will play a crucial role in advancing their strategic partnership. During a press conference held on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative, Ambassador Zhang affirmed that HH the Crown Prince of Kuwait will attend the opening of the 19th Asian Games in the city of Hangzhou.
This marks his first visit to China since assuming the role of Crown Prince. “This year marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of strategic partnership relations between China and Kuwait, and this visit is considered a historic one. It will effectively strengthen the traditional friendship, deepen mutual strategic trust, and enhance cooperation between the two countries in various fields within the framework of joint construction of the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative,” Zhang said. The ambassador pointed out that China will continue its efforts to enhance cooperation with Kuwait, emphasizing that China has become the largest trading partner for more than 140 countries.
“We believe in fostering development and stability in the region and reject the politicization of economic issues. We seek cooperation and solidarity with all countries, especially in the face of real challenges that require international cooperation,” he said. Ambassador Zhang highlighted that Kuwait was the first Gulf Arab country to establish diplomatic relations with China and the first Arab country to sign a memorandum of understanding with China regarding the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Additionally, Kuwait is the Arab country that provides China with preferential government loans. “Kuwait is the only Gulf country to which the Chinese government has sent a Chinese medical team. Since 1976, the Chinese government has sent 23 batches of medical teams to Kuwait. These actions reflect the development of friendly China-Kuwaiti relations and highlight the cooperation between the two countries. Kuwait is one of the friendliest countries towards China, and Chinese-Kuwaiti relations serve as a model for exchanges between countries.
In 2018, during the visit of His Highness the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to China, the two leaders announced the establishment of strategic partnership relations between China and Kuwait,” he pointed out. Zhang confirmed that both countries maintain close communication and support each other in international and regional affairs. He stressed the importance of dealing with global challenges through mutual respect and finding common ground for peaceful coexistence.
“Kuwait enjoys a distinct geographical location, and in recent years it has put forward its Vision 2035, which seeks to develop a diversified and sustainable economy, which is largely consistent with the strategy of the Belt and Road initiative. China always views Kuwait as an ideal and natural partner in jointly building the Belt and Road, as they enjoy strong economic complementarity and similar development concepts,” he said. Regarding economic and trade cooperation, the ambassador noted that since 2015, China has consistently been Kuwait’s largest trading partner.
In 2022, the total bilateral trade volume between the two countries reached $31.48 billion, representing an annual increase of 42.3 percent. Kuwait is also the seventh largest source of crude oil imports to China, as China imported 33.28 million tons of crude oil from Kuwait, an annual increase of 10.34 percent. Zhang revealed that approximately 60 Chinese companies operate in Kuwait and have participated in over 80 projects, contributing significantly to infrastructure construction and economic development in Kuwait.
“In recent years, the new headquarters of the Central Bank of Kuwait, Sabah Al-Salem University City, Health Assurance Hospital, infrastructure project for South Al-Mutlaa City, Seventh Ring Road project and other projects were built,” Zhang said. Chinese direct investment in Kuwait has reached approximately $550 million, making it the second largest source of foreign investment in Kuwait.
Ambassador Zhang also mentioned that the Kuwait Investment Authority established its second office abroad in Shanghai in 2018, indicating Kuwait’s optimism about investment prospects in China, as the office already owns more than 97 million A-shares with a total market value of about $280 million. Finally, he reiterated China’s unwavering support for the establishment of a Palestinian state along the borders of June 4, 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital.
