Deputy Minister of Defense: Kuwait keen to expand military cooperation with China
Kuwait’s Undersecretary of Defense, Sheikh Dr. Abdullah Al-Meshal, affirmed Kuwait’s commitment to strengthening its defense and military relations with the People’s Republic of China, praising the strategic partnership between the two countries and expressing the aspiration to elevate it in ways that serve security, stability, and prosperity in the region.
Sheikh Abdullah made these remarks to journalists on the sidelines of the Chinese Embassy’s celebration of the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, extending congratulations to the Chinese government and people, as well as to the Chinese Ambassador to Kuwait, the military attaché, and embassy staff on this occasion.
He stated that Kuwait-China relations are built on a solid foundation of friendship, mutual respect, and constructive dialogue, noting that cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the fields of defense and security, constitutes one of the most prominent aspects of their strategic partnership.
He added that Kuwait looks forward to enhancing this partnership in the coming phase, contributing to consolidating regional security and stability, and wished China continued progress and prosperity.
In response to a question regarding the impact of regional developments on the level of military cooperation with China, Sheikh Abdullah confirmed that Kuwait’s defense policy is based on expanding the horizons of cooperation with friendly countries across various military and defense fields, in a manner that serves common interests and enhances defense capabilities.
Regarding the utilization of Chinese expertise in air defense and unmanned aerial vehicles, he clarified that military cooperation with each country is conducted within specific domains, pointing out that existing cooperation with China includes military industries, foremost among which is the production of light and medium ammunition within Kuwait.
In this context, he revealed that a Kuwaiti military delegation visited the People’s Republic of China last week, holding discussions with the Chinese side to explore ways to enhance military cooperation between the two countries.
For his part, Liu Zongchen, the Military Attaché at the Chinese Embassy in Kuwait, affirmed that military relations between China and Kuwait are witnessing notable development under the strategic partnership linking the two countries, noting that these relations have achieved significant progress thanks to the guidance and strategic leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping and His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
Speaking at a reception marking the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Liu Zongchen stated that military and security cooperation between China and Kuwait faces “new opportunities” amid regional developments, emphasizing his commitment, in his capacity as defense attaché, to work hand in hand with the Kuwaiti Armed Forces to implement the agreements reached by the leaders of both countries and to strengthen cooperation between the two militaries across various fields.
He added that China views its military as a force defending international peace, noting his country’s contribution to United Nations peacekeeping operations since 1990 and the deployment of more than 50,000 personnel to conflict zones, making it the largest contributor of peacekeeping troops among the permanent members of the UN Security Council.
He pointed out that the region is passing through a delicate phase between war and peace, highlighting that China has observed the cohesion and resilience demonstrated by the Kuwaiti people, as well as the courage and sacrifices shown by Kuwaiti military personnel during recent events. He expressed confidence that the Chinese and Kuwaiti militaries will continue joint efforts to defend the common interests of both countries and contribute to enhancing security and stability in the region.
