On February 19, 2000, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan visited the Kingdom of Kuwait.


During his visit, Foreign Minister Tang conveyed a message to Emir Jaber of Kuwait from President Jiang Zemin, emphasizing that China attaches importance to the development of relations with Kuwait and is ready to work with the Kuwaiti side to further develop the friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries in the new century.


Emir Jaber had friendly talks with Foreign Minister Tang. He asked Tang to forward his warm greetings to President Jiang. He said, Kuwait and China enjoy longstanding and solid relations. In recent years, the two sides have conducted economic cooperation and trade in many areas and jointly worked on some large construction projects, thus promoting the development of bilateral relations. He expressed the hope that Kuwait and China would cooperate extensively in Kuwait, China or a third country so as to push the friendly cooperation between the two countries forward.


Tang said, with the concern of the two state leaders and the joint efforts by the two Governments, the friendly relations and cooperation between China and Kuwait have developed in a sustained, stable and all-round manner. In particular, there are broad vistas for the economic cooperation and trade between the two countries. We would like to explore new ways to cooperate and further expand areas of cooperation so as to make further contributions to our friendly relations and cooperation and bring them to a new high in the new century.


While meeting with Heir Apparent and Prime Minister Sa'ad of Kuwait, Tang pointed out that China has decided on its economic development strategy of developing China's West at the turn of the century, which also provides new opportunities for China, Kuwait and other Gulf countries to expand cooperation. Sa'ad said, economic cooperation and trade between Kuwait and China have laid a solid foundation and the Kuwaiti side is ready to further explore new areas of cooperation with the Chinese side.


Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and First Deputy Prime Minister and Minster of Foreign Affairs Sabah of Kuwait also held talks on strengthening the bilateral friendly relations and cooperation, situation in the Gulf region and other international and regional issues of common concern.


Tang said, China firmly supports the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kuwait, opposes any threat against Kuwait and expresses understanding of the relevant measures taken by Kuwait out of the consideration of its national security. We insist that all UN Security Council resolutions on Gulf issues should be implemented in a comprehensive and pragmatic manner. We understand and support the justified demands made by Kuwait on POW, war compensation, return of looted properties and other issues. As a permanent member of the Security Council, China holds responsibilities on regional peace and security. We would also like to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Kuwait so as to make further contributions to realizing peace and stability in the Gulf region at an early date.


Sabah expressed gratitude to China for the principled position China holds on solving the issues left over by the Gulf War and voiced the hope that China would further play a positive role in the aforesaid aspect.


On behalf of the Chinese Government, Tang expressed his thanks for the preferential loans offered by the Kuwaiti Government. He said facing a heavy task in post-war reconstruction and a shortage of funds, Kuwait has decided to further extend preferential loans to China, thus playing a positive role in promoting China's economic and social development and the all-round development of China-Kuwait relations.




Key word: Tang Jiaxuan, China, Kuwait