KUALA LUMPUR, May 27: Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday reaffirmed China’s readiness to enhance strategic cooperation with Kuwait and push forward the steady development of bilateral relations. His remarks came during a meeting with His Highness the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, who was representing His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit in the Malaysian capital.

According to China’s Xinhua News Agency, Premier Li highlighted the longstanding and robust nature of China-Kuwait relations, which have steadily progressed for over 50 years. He credited the strategic guidance of both Chinese President Xi Jinping and His Highness the Amir of Kuwait for the recent momentum and success in practical cooperation between the two countries.

Li noted the economic complementarity between China and Kuwait, emphasizing the potential for deeper collaboration. He expressed China’s support for aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with Kuwait Vision 2035, aiming to broaden the scope of joint projects and expedite their implementation.

The Chinese leader outlined key sectors for expanded cooperation, including energy, investment, the green and digital economies, and artificial intelligence. He also underscored the importance of people-to-people ties, advocating for stronger partnerships in education and tourism to foster closer cultural and social connections.

Amid rising global instability and protectionist trends, Li stressed the significance of multilateral engagement. He called for continued coordination with Kuwait through platforms such as the United Nations, the China-GCC framework, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia. This, he said, would promote equitable global governance and contribute to international peace and prosperity.

During the meeting, both sides reviewed the current state of Kuwait-China relations and discussed avenues for strengthening cooperation across various fields. They also addressed regional and international developments in the context of the ongoing summits.