KUWAIT CITY, Dec 14: Assistant Foreign Minister for the Americas Nawaf Al-Ahmad affirmed that the celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Kuwait and Canada is a milestone, allowing a thorough review of the long history of friendship and cooperation, and an opportunity to open new horizons for partnership in various fields.

In his speech at the reception organized by the Embassy of Canada on the occasion, Al-Ahmad expressed Kuwait’s deep appreciation for former Canadian Ambassador to Kuwait Aliya Mawani for her tremendous efforts in strengthening bilateral relations, as well as incumbent Ambassador Tara Scheurwater for her dedication and contribution to the success of the anniversary events. He also commended the Canadian Embassy team for organizing a series of events that reflected the strength of the ties between the two countries. He revealed that the cultural and diplomatic initiatives witnessed last year, particularly the publication of the book, ‘Take Your Seat’, through the collaboration of the Canadian Embassy and the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embodied the spirit of mutual friendship and deep understanding between the two peoples. He emphasized that Kuwait will never forget Canada’s historic stance during the Iraqi invasion in 1990 and its vital role in the international coalition to liberate Kuwait, affirming that this support will remain etched in the national memory and will be appreciated forever.

He explained that Kuwaiti-Canadian relations are based on a shared vision of diplomacy, peaceful conflict resolution support for multilateral action, and fruitful cooperation, encompassing political and defense dialogue, academic exchange and economic partnerships. He affirmed that Kuwait looks forward to a new phase of cooperation with Canada, stating that the 60th anniversary is not the end of an era, as it is rather a promising beginning for greater rapprochement and coordination in the coming years. He hopes that the friendship between the two countries will continue to grow in a way that serves the interests of both nations.

Meanwhile, Scheurwater said “the celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and Kuwait is a historic milestone embodying the strength of the ties between the two countries that spanned six decades.” She added that 2025 is an exceptional year for the Canadian Embassy in Kuwait, during which it worked for 11 months to highlight the history of cooperation and the diverse areas of partnership between the two countries with the theme “Cooperation and Communication.” She stated that the logo and visual identity for the celebration were inspired by the traditional Kuwaiti art of Sadu weaving, reflecting the fusion of Canadian and Kuwaiti cultures. She pointed out that the logo’s design incorporated symbols from both heritages, such as the Canadian maple leaf, the Kuwaiti flag, the organ, and the ‘inukshuk’, a symbol of nature and culture in northern Canada. She expressed her deep appreciation for the Canadian community in Kuwait, and for Canadian community networks, such as the Canadian Women’s Network and the Energy Sector Professionals Group, for their continuous support, along with Lumiere, the events partner throughout the year

By Fares Ghaleb Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff