RIYADH, May 14 : His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Wednesday expressed desire to enhance GCC states’ investments with the United States, hoped the GCC-US Summit would constitute a gateway to tackle regional issues and proposed a GCC-US forum for cultural and educational dialogue. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal, at start of his speech to the US-Gulf Summit, said he was deeply elated with holding the summit, addressing gratitude to Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud for the warm welcome, as well as the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammad Bin Salman Al-Saud for the distinguished preparations for the event.

His Highness the Amir expressed identical sentiments to the GCC States’ leaders for their support for the State of Kuwait’s substantial efforts during its current chairmanship of the GCC and for their blessed efforts to boost the Gulf ranks and develop further the strategic relationship with the US. “I address thanks to the President of the friendly United States (Donald Trump) for his renewed keenness and concern for meeting leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council to bolster the cooperation bonds within the mutual partnership and the joint vision for a future predominated with peace and stability and development. “Throughout the past decades, the relationship between the Gulf Cooperation Council has been boosted as a solid strategic partnership, exceeding security aspects to cover cooperation in various sectors,” His Highness the Amir stated. He recalled the US historic stand of leading the coalition for the liberation of the State of Kuwait from the flagrant Iraqi aggression in 1990; a stance that would remain alive in the memories of the Kuwaiti people and peoples of the Arabian Gulf states.” “While we view the economy as the basis for our partnership (with the US), we aspire to launch joint initiatives in investments in smart infrastructure, supporting innovation and business leadership, enhancing fair free trade and providing incentives for medium and small businesses,” His Highness the Amir said.

His Highness Sheikh Meshal praised the existing US-GCC cooperation, particularly with the State of Kuwait, in investments, expressed aspiration to increase the enterprises “with it (the US) as a strategic ally.” His Highness Sheikh Meshal has affirmed that the summit is held amid critical international circumstances, with mounting crises, strife and non-conventional cross-border challenges, noting that the GCC states have jointly supported the region’s stability and security and rejected any breach of their territories, maritime regions and resources. “On this basis,” he added, the State of Kuwait affirms commitment to act within the GCC for attaining the joint GCC-US objectives through understandings aimed at meeting the peoples’ hopes and the aspirations. At the humanitarian and development levels, His Highness the Amir affirmed the solid adherence to bolstering relief and humanitarian action in regions witnessing conflicts and catastrophes, “and we call for coordinating the US-Gulf development aid” for effective and sustainable response to the stricken communities’ needs.” “We also propose establishing a Gulf- American forum for educational and cultural dialogue to back programs of scientific and joint research, empower the youth, enhance the values of tolerance, openness and civic understanding,” he said.

Continuing in his speech at the US-Gulf Summit, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal turned to regional challenges hoping that the top-level meeting would constitute a gateway to tackle the region’s issues and problems. He alluded in part to the Middle East peace process that needs to be tackled with a just and comprehensive solution, according to resolutions of the international legitimacy and the Arab peace initiative to secure establishing an independent Palestinian state to the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. On Syria, he called for boosting the international community’s efforts to ensure the country’s security and stability, safeguard its sovereignty, territorial unity, ending the people’s plight and halting external intervention. Also in this context, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal announced his appreciation of the US President’s declaration of lifting the sanctions on Syria. On another regional issue, His Highness the Amir applauded the diplomatic efforts by Oman, reaching a cease-fire between the US and the illegitimate authorities in Yemen, hoping that the move would ensure sea navigation freedom.

“We admire the United States of America’s efforts for resolving international strife, ceasing the firing between India and Pakistan and acting to find a solution to the Russia-Ukraine war,” he stated. In the last section of his speech, His Highness the Amir has affirmed that the GCC states advocate that regional stability is a joint responsibility and that the partnership with the United States “constitutes the basis for this path.” “We aspire that our summit will be an advance step toward building a regional order that is more stable, balanced and integrated; based on the international law, mutual respect and joint interests,” His Highness Sheikh Meshal continued. He sealed the statement with expressions of gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the warm hospitality and to President Trump for his constructive participation in the top-level gathering, hoping “that our summit will be successful and our Gulf-US partnership remains permanently strong.” His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was accompanied by a high-level Kuwaiti delegation that included the Minister of Defense and Acting Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Sabah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya, and senior officials At the conclusion of the summit, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and his accompanying delegation departed Riyadh and was seen off at the airport by GCC Secretary General Jassem Al-Budaiwi and head of the honorary delegation and Saudi Ambassador to Kuwait Prince Sultan bin Saad Al- Saud, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sheikh Sabah Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- Sabah. His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah on Wednesday addressed messages to the top Saudi leaders for hosting the Gulf- US Summit, an event that has affirmed the Kingdom’s pivotal role at the regional and international levels. In his message to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal marked his departure from the Kingdom after participating in the summit by expressing heartfelt sentiments of gratitude to the Monarch for the warm hospitality that depicted the cordial and brotherly relations, the historic and deep-rooted bonds between “our two countries and brotherly peoples.”

The holding of the Gulf-US Summit, complementary to the previous same-level summits, with attendance of the US President Donald Trump, has empowered the Kingdom’s pivotal role at the regional and international levels, His Highness the Amir wrote to King Salman. Moreover, this summit depicts Riyadh’s keenness on strengthening the US-Gulf consensus in the shadow of global developments that compel “us to double efforts and unify the efforts and visions regarding all matters that reinforce security and stability in the region and the world,” His Highness Sheikh Meshal said in his address to the Saudi Monarch. He also lauded Riyadh for the broad preparations for the summit hoping that its outcome and recommendations would contribute to pushing forward the mutual cooperation. In conclusion, he wished the King everlasting wellbeing to lead the Kingdom toward more promotion and prosperity. In a separate message to the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, His Highness the Amir re-affirmed what he stated to the King -- upon conclusion of his visit to the Kingdom following the fifth edition of the GCC-US Summit. Upon His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah return to Kuwait, His Highness the Amir was received at the airport by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Acting Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah and Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. (KUNA)