KUWAIT CITY, Dec 23: Kuwait and India have agreed to elevate their bilateral relations to a "strategic partnership," based on the long-standing and cordial ties between the two nations. Both sides affirmed their desire to enhance cooperation in various fields, with the partnership aimed at serving the mutual interests of both countries, according to a joint statement released on Sunday.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kuwait on December 21-22, marking his first visit to the country, at the invitation of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Modi attended the opening ceremony of the Arabian Gulf Cup for football, 'Khaleeji Zain,' as a guest of honor of His Highness the Amir on Saturday.

On Sunday, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received the Indian Prime Minister at Bayan Palace.

Modi expressed his deepest gratitude to His Highness the Amir for being awarded the "Mubarak Al-Kabeer Order."

An official meeting was held, during which the leaders discussed multilateral international and regional issues of mutual concern.

Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah also held official talks with his Indian counterpart, marking a new phase in the strategic partnership between the two nations.

Both sides reiterated their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties through organized cooperation in key areas such as politics, trade, investment, defense, security, energy, culture, education, and technology. They also recalled the decades-long historical bonds between the peoples of both nations, emphasizing the cultural exchange and collaborative efforts that have propelled their relationship forward.

The two countries welcomed the establishment of a Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) to serve as a constitutional mechanism for reviewing and advancing bilateral relations. The committee will be co-chaired by the Foreign Ministers of Kuwait and India, and a joint action group will be formed to focus on areas such as trade, investment, education, skills development, science, technology, security, agriculture, counterterrorism, culture, health, manpower, and more.

The two sides highlighted the importance of trade as a key link between the two countries, noting the potential for further growth and diversification. They discussed various investment opportunities in India, particularly in sectors such as technology, tourism, healthcare, food security, and logistics. Kuwait expressed interest in exploring these opportunities, and both countries emphasized the need to bolster communication between Kuwait’s investment institutions and India's funds, companies, and corporations.

The two leaders also focused on enhancing cooperation in energy, oil, gas, and renewable energy. They welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in defense, which will provide a framework for joint military exercises, maritime defense, and other defense-related initiatives.

Both countries condemned terrorism in all its forms and stressed the importance of dismantling terrorist infrastructure and cutting off sources of terror funding. They also agreed to strengthen collaboration in anti-terror operations, intelligence sharing, capacity building, and combating cross-border crimes such as money laundering and drug smuggling. Furthermore, they discussed enhancing cooperation in cybersecurity and preventing the use of digital platforms for terrorism and extremism.

India praised Kuwait for hosting the High-Level International Conference on "Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process" in November.

The two sides emphasized the importance of health cooperation, reflecting on their successful collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also discussed the possibility of establishing an Indian pharmaceutical factory in Kuwait.

Additionally, they expressed mutual interest in deepening cooperation in technology, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, e-methods, and emerging technologies. Both sides agreed to work together on enhancing e-governance and sharing best practices to facilitate business and industrial development.

Kuwait also expressed its intention to collaborate with India to ensure food security, including through investments by Kuwaiti companies in India. India welcomed Kuwait's decision to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA), marking a significant step towards adopting low-carbon paths and promoting sustainable energy. Both countries expressed their commitment to working together to increase solar energy deployment globally within the ISA framework.

The two sides discussed recent meetings between their civil aviation authorities, with Kuwait expressing interest in increasing passenger flight capacity, while India showed readiness to reach a mutually beneficial solution.

Kuwait and India also renewed the Cultural Exchange Program (CEP) for 2025-2029, which will promote cultural exchange through art, music, and literature festivals. They also signed the Executive Program for Sports Cooperation for 2025-2028, which will enhance mutual exchanges, visits by athletes, and the organization of sports-related events.

Education was highlighted as another key area of cooperation. Both sides emphasized strengthening ties and exchanges between higher education institutions and expressed interest in collaborating on educational technology to modernize educational infrastructure.

As part of the MoU between the Kuwaiti Sheikh Saud Al-Nasser Al-Sabah Diplomatic Institute and the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS), the two countries welcomed the proposal to organize a special course for Kuwaiti diplomats and officers at SSIFS in New Delhi.

Kuwait and India acknowledged the centuries-old people-to-people ties that have been crucial to their historical relations. Kuwait expressed its high respect for the Indian community in Kuwait, which has contributed significantly to the country's development through their peaceful and hardworking nature. Modi expressed his gratitude for Kuwait's care and welfare of the Indian community.

The two sides also stressed the importance of historic cooperation in workforce mobility and human resources, agreeing to hold regular meetings to address issues related to expatriates, labor mobility, and matters of mutual interest.

Both countries commended their coordination at the UN and other multilateral organizations. India welcomed Kuwait's role as a dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) during India’s presidency of the organization in 2023. Kuwait, in turn, expressed its support for India’s active role in the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), emphasizing the importance of transforming the ACD into a regional organization.

Modi congratulated His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Kuwait's leadership of the GCC, expressing confidence that Gulf-India cooperation will thrive under his leadership.

The two sides welcomed the results of the first joint ministerial meeting of the strategic dialogue between the GCC and India, held at the foreign ministers' level in Riyadh on September 9, 2024. Kuwait, as the current chairman of the GCC, reaffirmed its support for increasing cooperation between the two sides under the joint action plan, which includes areas such as health, trade, security, agriculture, transport, energy, and culture.

Both countries stressed the importance of completing the free trade agreement between the GCC and India during Kuwait’s presidency of the GCC in 2025. They also called for reforms to the United Nations to make it more representative and effective, emphasizing the need to expand the Security Council’s membership to enhance its efficiency.

A number of agreements were signed during the visit, including a defense MoU for 2025-2029, a cultural exchange program for 2025-2029, the sports cooperation executive program for 2025-2028, and an agreement on Kuwait’s participation in the International Solar Alliance.

Prime Minister Modi expressed his gratitude to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for the warm reception and hospitality, reaffirming the strong ties between the two nations and their shared commitment to enhancing their partnership for regional and global stability.