China-Kuwait mark 60 years since Sheikh Jaber’s landmark visit

Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Sheikh Jarrah Al-Jaber, reaffirmed the strong and growing ties between Kuwait and China, emphasizing Kuwait’s commitment to expanding cooperation across strategic and vital sectors.

Al-Jaber’s remarks came during a special ceremony hosted by the Chinese Embassy, marking the 60th anniversary of the late Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad’s historic visit to Beijing. The event, which coincided with the Chinese New Year 2025 celebrations, brought together senior government officials, diplomats, and key figures from the business and cultural sectors of both nations.

In his speech, Sheikh Jarrah Al-Jaber reflected on the evolution of Kuwaiti-Chinese relations, emphasizing that the late Emir’s visit in 1965 was a pivotal moment that established a solid foundation for strong bilateral ties. He highlighted how this historic visit paved the way for multidimensional strategic cooperation, fostering deeper collaboration across various sectors.

Al-Jaber added that the relationship between Kuwait and China has evolved beyond traditional diplomacy, becoming a true model of friendship. He emphasized that this partnership is built on shared values of mutual respect, productive cooperation, and a genuine commitment to development and shared prosperity.

Importantly, Al-Jaber highlighted that despite the 3,800-mile geographical distance between the two capitals, the strong political will of both leaderships has overcome all barriers. He reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment to strengthening strategic relations with China across all vital sectors, aligning with the aspirations of both nations’ leaderships and peoples. He emphasized that this partnership aims to promote security, stability, prosperity, and development not only in the region but also on a global scale.

Articulated Terminals

Al-Jaber reflected on key milestones in Kuwaiti-Chinese relations, particularly the historic visit of the late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad to Beijing in July 2018, during which the two countries formally established a strategic partnership. He also highlighted the visit of Emir Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad to China in September 2023, when he was Crown Prince, describing it as a turning point in bilateral relations. This visit led to the signing of seven memorandums of understanding, paving the way for major development projects in renewable energy, infrastructure, and environmental governance.

Tangible Achievements

In his speech, Chinese Ambassador to Kuwait, His Excellency Zhang Jianwei, emphasized the strategic importance of Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad’s historic visit to Beijing. He noted that this visit served as a pivotal moment, marking the true beginning of strong and enduring relations between the two nations.

Ambassador Jianwei highlighted that over the past six decades, China-Kuwait relations have experienced continuous growth and remarkable achievements. He pointed to significant progress in political mutual trust, economic and trade cooperation, as well as cultural and humanitarian exchanges, reflecting the deepening partnership between the two nations.

Furthermore, Ambassador Jianwei added that based on this new historic milestone, China’s affirms its readiness to work closely with Kuwait, to translate the important consensus reached between the leaderships of the two countries into reality, and to raise bilateral relations to broader horizons, serving the common interests of the two friendly peoples.

Ambassador Jianwei stated that this new historic milestone reaffirms China’s commitment to working closely with Kuwait. He emphasized China’s readiness to translate the important agreements reached between the two leaderships into concrete actions, further expanding bilateral relations and advancing mutual interests for the benefit of both nations and their peoples.

Cooperation

Ambassador Jianwei highlighted the remarkable progress in China-Kuwait cooperation over the past six decades. He noted that bilateral trade has grown exponentially, rising from $8.39 million in 1965 to tens of billions in recent years. He also emphasized that China has been Kuwait’s largest trading partner for 10 consecutive years, reflecting the strength and depth of their economic ties.

Moreover, Ambassador Jianwei highlighted the deepening economic ties between China and Kuwait, noting that Kuwait opened its second overseas investment office in Shanghai, while China has become the second-largest source of foreign direct investment in Kuwait. He pointed to major infrastructure projects successfully completed by Chinese companies, including the new Central Bank of Kuwait building, the University City, a major refinery, and a large-scale housing project.

Ambassador Jianwei also emphasized Kuwait’s leadership in technology, becoming the first country in the Middle East to achieve nationwide 5G coverage in collaboration with Huawei. Strengthening connectivity, direct flights between Kuwait City and Guangzhou now operate three times a week, leading to a rise in Kuwaiti travelers to China. In 2024 alone, the Chinese embassy issued approximately 13,000 visas, reflecting the growing people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.

Chinese – Kuwaiti Friendship Awards

The ceremony featured the presentation of the “Sino-Kuwaiti Friendship Awards” to five categories of individuals and institutions that have played a significant role in strengthening cooperation between the two nations.

The “Distinguished Merit Award” was presented to all former Kuwaiti ambassadors to China in recognition of their outstanding diplomatic contributions. Meanwhile, the “Enhancement of Cooperation Award” was given to the Chinese medical team working in Kuwait, honoring its exceptional efforts in supporting and advancing the Kuwaiti healthcare sector over the years.

“The promise of the Silk Road”

The cultural program of the celebration featured a variety of artistic performances that highlighted the deep cultural exchange between China and Kuwait.

Young performers from both countries collaborated on a rendition of the song “The Promise of the Silk Road,” symbolizing the spirit of cooperation and a shared vision for the future. Additionally, a specialized ensemble delivered a captivating performance of the renowned Beijing opera piece “Poem to the Pear Flowers,” which was met with great admiration from the audience.

Dragon Dance

The event concluded with a spectacular traditional Chinese dragon dance, captivating the audience with its vibrant energy. Following the performance, guests gathered in the embassy’s outer square for the official launch of the “Happy Spring Festival” celebrations.

Attendees had the opportunity to savor renowned traditional Chinese dishes and enjoy live demonstrations of Arabic calligraphy and Chinese folk arts, all within a lively and festive atmosphere.