On May 11, 2009, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah in Ziguangge, Zhongnanhai.

During the meeting, Premier Wen expressed welcome to Al-Sabah, who is on his first visit to China since he became Emir of Kuwait in 2006. Kuwait was the first Gulf Arab country to forge diplomatic ties with China. Wen called the bilateral ties "solid" and cooperation "fruitful". In face of the severe challenges posed by the ongoing international financial crisis, China is ready to deepen cooperation with Kuwait on economy, trade, energy, infrastructure and finance, and join hands to overcome difficulties and work towards an early recovery of the world economy.

Wen pointed out that the development process of China-Kuwait relations proved that nations with different social systems and cultural backgrounds could achieve friendly co-existence and win-win outcome as long as they respected each other and treated each other as equals. Wen stressed China valued traditional friendship with the Arab countries, adding that China supported their efforts to safeguard state sovereignty, independence and dignity and respected the development road independently chosen by these countries. China is ready to establish and develop friendly relations with all the nations in the Middle East based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence and to continue playing a constructive role for peace and development of the region.

Al-Sabah hailed the profound traditional friendship between the two countries, adding that their relations are based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. He expressed sincere thanks for China's support and assistance that Kuwait has been receiving since its independence. Al-Sabah said his current visit showed Kuwait's desire to develop relations with China, vowing to make unremitting efforts to develop friendly cooperation with China in the context of the spreading global financial crisis. Kuwait is also ready to work with China to build a long-term, stable, and sustainable relationship of mutually beneficial cooperation. He also emphasized the coordination between the two countries on international issues and issues concerning the Gulf and the Arab region, pledging to push bilateral ties to a new level.

Both sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on such issues as joining hands to tackle the financial crisis and the Middle East issue.