Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The People’s Republic of China
Xi Jinping Meets with Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
Updated: September 22, 2023 21:20

On the afternoon of September 22, 2023, President Xi Jinping met at the West Lake State Guesthouse in Hangzhou with Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah who is in China to attend the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Kuwait enjoy profound traditional friendship. Kuwait was the first Gulf Arab country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, and the first country in the Middle East to sign Belt and Road cooperation documents with China. Over the past 52 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, particularly over the past 5 years since the establishment of the strategic partnership between the two countries, China-Kuwait relations have made significant progress, and cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results. China is ready to work with Kuwait to achieve greater development of China-Kuwait relations.

Xi Jinping emphasized that China supports Kuwait in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and stands ready to work with Kuwait to uphold the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs, a "golden rule" of vital importance to developing countries. China appreciates Kuwait’s active participation in Belt and Road cooperation, supports Kuwait in implementing Kuwait Vision 2035 "New Kuwait", and stands ready to work Kuwait to enhance synergy in development strategies, strengthen cooperation in such fields as investment, energy, infrastructure, environmental governance and digital economy, deepen cooperation in law enforcement security and counter-terrorism, and enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Xi Jinping expressed his hope that Kuwait will continue to support China's rural revitalization strategy, and continue to provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory market environment for Chinese enterprises to invest in Kuwait. China is ready to work with Kuwait to follow through on the outcomes of the first China-Arab States Summit and the China-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit, constantly elevate the level of collective cooperation between China and Arab states as well as between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council, enhance communication and cooperation on multilateral platforms including the United Nations, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah extended his congratulations to the friendly Chinese people on the upcoming 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. He said the government and people of Kuwait feel deeply proud of Kuwait-China relations, and feel deeply satisfied with the fruitful outcomes of bilateral cooperation. Based on the lofty purpose and principle of promoting peace and progress of humanity, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative put forth by President Xi Jinping are of great significance, and Kuwait firmly supports and actively participates in them. Kuwait highly appreciates China for supporting Kuwait in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will continue to pursue the one-China policy, firmly support China's position on issues concerning China’s core interests, and work with China to support people of all countries in independently choosing development paths suited to their own national conditions and with characteristics of their own countries. Kuwait is ready to work with China to deepen practical cooperation in various fields and enhance communication and cooperation in the Middle East and the Gulf region.

After the meeting, leaders of the two countries jointly witnessed the signing of the Joint Statement on the Five-Year (2024-2028) Cooperation Plan between the People's Republic of China and the State of Kuwait, and multiple bilateral cooperation documents in such fields as renewable energy, infrastructure construction and environment governance.

Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Wang Yi, and Shen Yiqin, among others, attended the above events.