KUWAIT CITY, March 18: Chinese Ambassador to Kuwait Zhang Jianwei has affirmed that the framework agreement for technical arrangements signed by the governments of Kuwait and China on Monday, which includes all the technical details for cooperation in the field of renewable energy, is good news and very important for strengthening cooperation in the field of renewable energy between the two countries. Jianwei made this statement during a Ghabqa he hosted in honor of the members of the Chinese Muslim community in Kuwait, with several citizens in attendance. He revealed the agreement was signed during the ceremony held in Beijing on the Kuwaiti side by Undersecretary of the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy Adel Al-Zamel and Samih Jawhar Hayat, and on the Chinese side by Deputy Director of the National Energy Administration Ren Jingdong. He said it is also an important step towards implementing the seven agreements between the governments of China and Kuwait, which were concluded on the sidelines of the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah in September 2023, and in light of the lofty directives of the country’s top political leadership to accelerate the implementation of major development projects with Beijing. He added this framework agreement is the second of its kind, following the signing of an agreement last February for the Mubarak Port project.

“The coming period will witness an acceleration of work between our two countries to implement agreements in the fields of sanitation and housing. A new Chinese company will soon arrive in Kuwait to consult with officials on strengthening cooperation in the sanitation sector. A Kuwaiti delegation will also travel to China to explore cooperation in the field of free trade. Through this close cooperation, we can witness more business and collaboration between us. This type of work will protect the common interests of our two countries,” he elaborated. He affirmed that his country has entered an important phase of modernization and development, providing economic opportunities for other countries, including Kuwait.

“China will become more open and attractive to foreign investment. We welcome investments from Kuwait. We welcome more Kuwaiti friends for tourism and trade. I believe these opportunities will strengthen cooperation between us and protect the common interests of our peoples. We are optimistic about the future of this cooperation, especially under the patronage and leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping and His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad,” he added. He disclosed that the number of Chinese companies operating in Kuwait exceeds 60, and that they have been here since the late 1970s. “They have contributed significantly to the development of the Kuwaiti economy and the improvement of the living standards of the Kuwaiti people, given their capabilities, experience and good reputation. China is the second country to invest in Kuwait. Chinese companies are interested in Kuwaitizing labor and jobs, and have brought many Kuwaitis to the country,” he asserted. He stated that “the coming period will witness the presence of many Chinese delegations at various high levels in Kuwait. We will also witness the presence of Kuwaiti delegations in Beijing shortly.”

By Fares Al-Abdan
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff