KUWAIT: HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah departed to China to attend the 19th Asian Olympic Games at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. HH the Crown Prince was seen off at the airport by National Assembly Speaker Ahmad Al-Saadoun, HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, Head of HH the Crown Prince Diwan Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, Deputy President of Kuwait National Guard Sheikh Faisal Al-Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Acting Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah.

HH the Crown Prince is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Oil and Minister of Economic Affairs and Investment Dr Saad Al-Barrak, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Salem Al-Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Mohammad Al-Aiban, Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy Dr Jassem Al-Ostad, Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Housing Affairs Faleh Al-Ruqba and senior state officials.

Kuwait was the first Gulf state to establish full-scale diplomatic relations with China in 1971. The strategic Kuwait-China relationship has been evolving, serving aspirations of the two countries, namely with respect to development schemes.

Moreover, Kuwait was the first Arab state to ink a memorandum of understanding with China for involvement in China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The New Kuwait 2035 development strategy has given further impetus for the country’s drive to cement ties with China, with the prime goals of overhauling the Kuwaiti economy to render it diversified and sustainable; thus largely becoming in harmony with the Chinese economic strategy. – KUNA