KUWAIT CITY, May 13: The Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq, and an official accompanying delegation arrived on a state visit in Kuwait Monday. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received Sultan Haitham and his accompanying delegation at Kuwait Airport. A fleet of Kuwait’s Air Force jets accompanied Sultan Haitham’s plane over the Kuwaiti airspace. His Majesty was received by Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Shareeda Al-Muasherji, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Oil Dr. Imad Al-Atiqi, Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah Al-Yahya, and senior state officials. His Majesty the Sultan accompanied by a high-ranking official delegation comprising Sayyed Shehab bin Tareq Al- Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham Al-Said, Sayyed Khaled bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court, Gen. Sultan bin Mohammad Al-Nuamani, Minister of the Royal Office and Sayyed Hamoud bin Faisal Al- Busaidi Minister of Interior.

Sultan Haitham was also accompanied by Bader bin Hamad Al-Busaidi Foreign Minister, Dr. Hamad bin Said Al-Aufi, Head of the Private Office, Abdussalam bin Mohammad Al- Murshidi, Chairman of Oman Investment Authority, Qais bin Mohammad Al-Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion and Dr. Saleh bin Amer Al-Kharousi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the State of Kuwait. Upon His Majesty’s arrival, the national anthem was played for both countries. Sultan Haitham greeted several senior state officials of the Kuwaiti government. His Highness the Amir welcomed the Omani officials accompanying Sultan Haitham. Artillery fired twenty-one rounds to welcome the arrival of His Majesty.

Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al-Said state visit to Kuwait is reflective of the strength of ties between Kuwait and Oman, said Kuwaiti media figure on Monday. The figures told KUNA in separate interviews that the visit would help bolster ties and also exchange views and collaborate on matters pertaining to the region and the world. In this regard the Editor-in-Chief of Al-Seyassah and Arab Times newspapers Ahmed Al-Jarallah lauded the exemplary ties linking the two countries. The visit would help bolster relations, indicated Al-Jarallah who indicated that the strength of relations was reflected in 1990 when Iraq invaded Kuwait for which Oman stood strongly opposed to this heinous act.

The two countries shared mutual vision concerning issues of joint GCC cooperation as well as matter of regional and international importance, he said, reiterating that the visit would help further enhance Kuwaiti and Omani joint cooperation. Editor-in-Chief of Al-Wasat Adnan Al-Wazzan shared similar sentiments, saying that the relations were deeply rooted in mutual cooperation and brother aspirations. Both leaderships were keen on boost cooperation in various domains namely commerce and the economy, he asserted, pointing out the latest joint venture seen in the opening of Al-Duqm refinery and petrochemical complex in Oman was an example of fruitful cooperation.

He revealed that his newspaper had chosen Sultan Haitham as public figure of the year in 2019 with the daily dedicating a whole section showcasing his meetings with Kuwaiti leaders and figures throughout the year. On his part, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Al-Qabas (the light) newspaper Abdullah Al-Mudhaf affirmed the importance of the latest visit for Kuwaiti-Omani relations. He mentioned that the latest visit by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to Oman back in February and the opening of Al-Duqm refinery, with a production capacity of 230,000 barrels per day, displayed both countries keenness of cooperation as well as the strength of GCC unity. The state visit would be another milestone in the illustrious Kuwaiti Omani relations and would boost ties between the two countries, he affirmed.

(KUNA)