KUWAIT CITY, July 6, (KUNA): His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al- Sabah received at Seif Palace Sunday morning, UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs David Lammy during his official visit to Kuwait. The meeting was also attended by Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for European Affairs Ambassador Sadeq Marafi, Kuwait’s Ambassador to the UK Bader Al-Munaikh, and UK Ambassador to Kuwait Belinda Lewis. Meanwhile, the latest round of strategic talks between Kuwait and Britain has produced a trio of agreements aiming to propel bilateral relations to greater levels, the foreign ministry said on Sunday, praising the longevity and proximity of these ties. The talks, presided over by Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya and his British counterpart David Lammy, come some 126 years after diplomatic relations began in earnest, while trade ties date back more than 250 years, according to a foreign ministry statement.

The history of relations between Kuwait and London is dotted with instances of camaraderie and cultural exchange, in addition to productive cooperation across fields ranging from healthcare to education, the statement cited the Kuwaiti top diplomat as saying, highlighting Britain’s commitment to protect Kuwait’s security. On bilateral relations, the British foreign secretary said that London was proud of the “strategic partnership” linking the two nations, which continues to make significant headway across multiple fields, added the statement.

The talks also covered a wide array of pressing matters of mutual concern, while the Kuwaiti and British foreign ministers exchanged their views on ongoing developments around the region and beyond, agreeing that the deals signed amid the gathering serve the collective interests of both nations, it said. The next round of talks is slated to take place in London next year, the statement said.

Meanwhile, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah received on Sunday, UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs David Lammy during his official visit to Kuwait. During the meeting, both sides touched on enhancing bilateral ties between the two countries. The meeting was attended by Head of the Prime Minister’s Office Abdulaziz Al-Dakheel, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for European Affairs Ambassador Sadeq Marafi, Kuwait’s Ambassador to the UK Bader Al-Munaikh, and UK Ambassador to Kuwait Belinda Lewis.