On December 21, 2022, Ambassador Zhang Jianwei attended the test ride ceremony of the first electric bus held by Kuwait Public Transport Co., Ltd. (KPTC). Cheng Yongru, Economic and Commercial Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Kuwait, Abdulaziz, a member of KPTC’s board of directors, and Mansour, General Manager of KPTC were also present at the ceremony.

Ambassador Zhang said at the test ride ceremony that President Xi Jinping met with Crown Prince Mishal on the sidelines of the first China-Arab States Summit and the China-GCC Summit, where President Xi stressed the need to exploit the potential of China-Kuwait cooperation in such sectors as new energy. In the next three to five years, China will work with GCC countries including Kuwait to create a more three-dimensional new pattern of energy cooperation and strengthen cooperation in clean and low-carbon energy technologies. It is believed that this will bring new opportunities and inject new momentum into China-Kuwait cooperation. That the China-made electric bus becomes the first of its kind formally operated in Kuwait demonstrates Kuwait’s high trust in Chinese brands and technologies. For years, Chinese automakers have been working closely with KPTC, playing a positive role in boosting the development of local transport. China is ready to continue to strengthen cooperation with the Kuwaiti side, provide more high-quality and environmentally friendly transport vehicles for the people of Kuwait, and help Kuwait advance the transformation of its energy structure and its green and low-carbon development.

Abdulaziz and other leaders of Kuwait said that Chinese automobile enterprises had made positive contributions to the development of Kuwait’s public transport industry. Cooperation between KPTC and Chinese automobile enterprises dates back to 2006. KPTC has introduced about 1,100 traditional energy buses from China, accounting for more than 95% of the market share of Kuwait’s public buses. The operation of China’s electric buses will further improve the quality of local public transport services, offer local people more comfortable travelling experience, and facilitate the development of the country’s green transport.

After the end of the ceremony, Ambassador Zhang, accompanied by the leaders of Kuwait, took the bus for a test ride and received an interview with the local media.

The first electric bus in Kuwait is manufactured by Chinese automaker Kinglong, and is about to be officially put into operation on January 1, 2023.