KUWAIT: Acting Deputy Foreign Minister and Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affairs Walid Al-Khabeizi said Thursday night that luck is on Kuwait's side in the quest for securing a visa agreement with the Schengen zone. "The majority of the 26 Schengen zone countries are interested in Kuwait's application for visa agreement," Ambassador Al-Khabeizi told reporters. He made the comments during a celebration at China Embassy here to mark the country's national day. Kuwait is following up sound and firm steps in the negotiations with the Schengen zone particularly after the adoption of the electronic passport system, he said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in contact with the European Commission which is reviewing Kuwait's file, he pointed out, noting that this issue will be raised during the visit of German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Kuwait next week. "Kuwait pins high hopes on support to its bid from Germany which is considered the mainstay of the Schengen zone," Al-Khabeizi went on. On the relations with China, he said they kept growing steadily over the last decades, noting that Kuwait was the first country to establish diplomatic ties with China. Kuwait has four representation missions in China which play a key role in strengthening the bilateral ties in all domains, he said, adding that the two countries signed 35 agreements on cooperation in various fields. - KUNA