As the Chinese Ambassador to Kuwait, H.E. Zhang Jianwei concludes his diplomatic tenure in Kuwait, officials and dignitaries gathered to honor his contributions and the progress made in bilateral relations under his leadership.
During a farewell ceremony hosted by the Chinese Embassy in coordination with the Deanship of the Diplomatic Corps, Kuwait’s Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs, Ambassador H.E. Samih Johar Hayat, praised Ambassador Zhang’s dedication to advancing cooperation between the two nations.
In his remarks during the ceremony, Hayat praised Ambassador Zhang Jianwei for his consistent efforts in advancing bilateral ties and following up on the outcomes of His Highness the Amir’s visit to China.
He highlighted Zhang’s frequent meetings — often several times a week — focusing on strategic projects such as the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port, the Shagaya renewable energy initiative, and four other major ventures aligned with Kuwait Vision 2035.
The event, attended by senior Kuwaiti officials and foreign diplomats, served as a reflection of the strong and evolving strategic partnership between Kuwait and China — anchored by continuous coordination, developmental collaboration, and shared long-term visions.
In his remarks, Ambassador Zhang Jianwei said over the past three years, Kuwait-China relations have seen tangible progress, particularly in the execution of agreements endorsed by the leaders of both countries. He stressed that projects such as the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port are advancing significantly thanks to close bilateral cooperation.
The Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project, Ambassador Zhang said is in the design and construction phase, noting that it is a large-scale venture requiring detailed feasibility studies.
The initial design phase has already begun, and he expressed optimism about the project’s future, underscoring that such ambitious infrastructure initiatives naturally require years to complete.
However, he expressed confidence that the strong partnership between China and Kuwait would ensure smooth and successful implementation.
His Excellency Dr. Zubaydullo Zubaydov, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Tajikistan to the country, also addressed the outgoing Chinese envoy, highlighting is contributions to enhancing bilateral relations during his tenure.
Ambassador Hayat, affirmed that the agreements and memoranda of understanding signed between Kuwait and China are progressing steadily. He emphasized the continuous cooperation, consultation, and coordination between the two governments — both with the Chinese leadership and the Chinese ambassador to Kuwait — on a daily basis.
He highlighted the strong presence at the event, which included several senior officials, diplomats, and dignitaries such as the President of the Supreme Judicial Council and the Court of Cassation, Counselor Dr. Adel Bouresli; Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment, Engineer Noura Al-Fassam; and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense, Sheikh Dr. Abdullah Al-Sabah.
Hayat pointed out that six major development initiatives — referred to as the “Mega Projects” — are currently being implemented through direct government-to-government cooperation with Chinese companies. He stressed that the implementation of these projects, along with other agreements signed with China, receives close attention from His Highness the Amir, His Highness the Crown Prince, the Prime Minister, and relevant ministers.
He further revealed that periodic daily reports are submitted to the country’s leadership regarding every step taken in cooperation with China, ensuring full transparency and strategic alignment.
Regarding China’s recent initiative to waive visa requirements for Kuwaiti citizens for one year, Hayat clarified that this is part of an ongoing dialogue. A prior agreement signed in 2014 already exempts Chinese holders of diplomatic, special, official, and service passports from visa requirements, while Kuwaiti diplomatic and special passport holders enjoy reciprocal benefits.
He noted that during a meeting between His Highness the Crown Prince and the Chinese Premier on the sidelines of the recent GCC-ASEAN-China Summit, the Premier expressed China’s intention to extend visa exemptions to Kuwaiti citizens on a trial basis.
Kuwait is currently studying the proposal with the aim of drafting a memorandum of understanding to regulate exemptions for holders of ordinary passports, a process that requires sustained diplomatic and technical effort.
