Chinese Ambassador highlights Belt and Road synergy with Kuwait Vision 2035
The Times Kuwait Report
- China, Kuwait seek to transform Kuwait into logistics hub linking Asia and Europe
- Ports, logistics zones and supply chains at forefront of bilateral cooperation
- Ammunition plant begins operations as military and student exchanges continue
- Water treatment project to begin implementation soon, with more contracts expected this year
Chinese Ambassador to Kuwait H.E. Yang Xin said China-Kuwait relations are gaining momentum, with bilateral cooperation moving onto a “faster track” under the strategic guidance of the leaderships of both countries.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy to mark China’s National Day, the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Kuwait, Yang said cooperation has expanded across political, economic, cultural, scientific, technological and security fields.
The reception was attended by Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy Dr. Subaih Al-Mukhaizeem, along with ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Kuwait. Yang noted that this year marks the 55th anniversary of China-Kuwait diplomatic relations, while the two countries established a strategic partnership in 2018.
Belt and Road and Vision 2035
He said China is “fully satisfied with the current state of bilateral relations” and looks forward to further deepening comprehensive cooperation to deliver greater benefits to the peoples of both countries. Yang said China and Kuwait are working to further align the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative with Kuwait Vision 2035, creating broader opportunities for cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure and construction, as well as ports, logistics zones and supply chains.
He said Kuwait’s strategic geographic location provides an opportunity to develop its role as a regional logistics hub linking Asia and Europe, with potential to extend connectivity to Africa. China is ready to deepen cooperation with Kuwait in port development and infrastructure, he added, while strengthening collaboration in logistics and supply chains to support mutual benefit and shared development.
Strategic projects
On strategic projects, Yang said some construction projects had been affected by regional developments but remain underway. He noted that the contract for a water treatment project has been signed and implementation will begin soon. He also expressed expectations that additional contracts would be signed during the current year.
Yang described China and Kuwait as “important energy partners” for each other, noting that China has long been a major importer of Kuwaiti crude oil, while Kuwait remains among China’s top 10 oil suppliers. China is prepared to further deepen cooperation with Kuwait in the oil and gas sectors, he said, contributing to the energy and economic security of both countries while also expanding cooperation in new energy.
Yang noted that cooperation documents signed in the presence of the two countries’ leaders included projects in the new energy sector. China hopes renewable energy will become “a new highlight and a new driver of growth” in China-Kuwait cooperation in the near future, he said.
In technology and emerging industries, Yang said China is ready to continue cooperation with Kuwait in traditional sectors while developing new growth drivers, including artificial intelligence, the digital economy, smart cities and cybersecurity. Such cooperation, he said, would broaden the partnership and open new avenues for collaboration in advanced technology sectors.
Yang described security and military cooperation as an important component of China-Kuwait relations, noting the strong ties between the two countries in this field. Cooperation includes the armed forces of both countries, with the ammunition factory in Kuwait beginning operations at the start of this year.
China-Gulf economic ties
Military visits and student exchanges between the two sides are also continuing, Yang said, adding that China looks forward to further expanding security and military cooperation in the coming period. Addressing China’s relations with the Gulf states, Yang said “all the Arab Gulf countries are close friends of China.”
He stressed that China-Gulf relations extend beyond energy cooperation to include political trust, joint economic development and the shared benefit of the region’s rich cultural heritage. Against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world, both sides agree on the importance of upholding international law, international humanitarian law, the UN Charter and the basic principles governing international relations, he said.China supports the peoples of the Middle East, including the Gulf states, in determining their own destinies and playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, Yang added.
Regional developments and Strait of Hormuz
On regional developments and the escalation in the region, Yang said China has, since the outbreak of fighting, worked to promote a ceasefire and reduce tensions, while also seeking the restoration of normal navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. He said Chinese President Xi Jinping has taken several initiatives and adopted policies aimed at promoting a ceasefire, stressing that China’s efforts to reduce escalation and find solutions to the crisis are continuing.
Yang said the Strait of Hormuz is an important international trade route for goods and energy. Maintaining regional security and stability and ensuring freedom and smooth passage serve the common interests of the international community, he said. He expressed hope that all parties would work together to restore normal maritime traffic through the strait as soon as possible.
In his speech at the reception, Yang said the Chinese economy has maintained strong momentum of stable and positive growth this year. China’s gross domestic product grew by 4.7 percent year-on-year during the first half of the year, an increase of 3.6 trillion yuan, marking the largest increase recorded during the same period over the past five years, he said.
New growth drivers, including advanced manufacturing, the intelligent digital economy and modern services, contributed more than 40 percent of this growth, Yang said. He affirmed that China has the confidence and capacity to continue achieving what he described as the “two miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability,” while opening new horizons for China’s modernization path.
