China, Kuwait agree to boost ties

China’s Prime Minister Li Keqiang has held talks with visiting Kuwaiti Prime minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah in the Chinese capital of Beijing, with both sides pledging to cement the bilateral cooperation of their countries.

Describing China and Kuwait as trustworthy friends and sincere partners, Li said on Tuesday that China stands ready to expand high-level interactions and enhance political mutual trust with Kuwait on issues of mutual interests, Xinhua reported Wednesday.

The Chinese premier further called for the expansion of bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, finance and infrastructure construction as well as other areas.

On energy cooperation, Li expressed optimism that the Kuwaiti side will open up the upstream oil and gas industry to Chinese companies.

Sheikh Al-Sabah, for his part, said Kuwait is committed to the development of its ties with China with a view to shared development and is willing to expand the high-level visits between the officials of the two countries.

After the talks, a string of bilateral deals, in the areas of trade, finance, energy and aviation, were signed.

The Kuwaiti prime minister arrived in Beijing on Monday on a four-day official visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart.