Ambassador of Uzbekistan: Visa Exemption for Kuwaitis Strengthens Relations
May Al-Sukari - The Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Kuwait, Ayub Khan Yunusov, praised the deep historical and strong ties uniting his country with Kuwait, commending Kuwait’s continuous support for Uzbekistan’s development journey, particularly through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. He affirmed the aspiration to expand areas of cooperation and partnership with Kuwait in the coming years.
Speaking at an event held yesterday evening to mark the 35th anniversary of Uzbekistan’s independence, attended by State Minister for Economic Affairs and Investment Abdulaziz Al-Marzouq, a large gathering of ambassadors, diplomatic corps members, officials, and prominent figures, Yunusov noted that Kuwait holds a special place in his country’s heart, as it was among the first nations to recognize Uzbekistan’s independence in December 1991. He explained that bilateral relations have evolved since then on the basis of mutual trust, respect, and shared interests.
He appreciated the support provided by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to his country over the years, especially for water, infrastructure, and health projects, emphasizing that Uzbekistan highly values these contributions, which have helped bolster its development path. He stated that Kuwait-Uzbek relations extend beyond development cooperation into multiple fields, expressing his hope to enhance partnerships in trade, investment, energy, education, tourism, innovation, and other areas of mutual interest.
Regarding people-to-people ties, the ambassador praised the exemption of Kuwaiti citizens from visa requirements for stays of up to 30 days in Uzbekistan, a move that strengthens tourism and human and cultural exchanges between the two countries. He welcomed visits by Kuwaitis to Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, and other Uzbek cities.
The ambassador commended the Kuwaiti leadership’s approach, which is based on supporting peace, stability, and dialogue, expressing his country’s appreciation for this stance. He thanked the Kuwaiti government for its patronage and care for the Uzbek community residing in Kuwait.
He concluded by stating that Kuwait-Uzbek friendship forms a solid foundation for further cooperation, expressing his hope that the coming phase will witness deeper and broader partnerships between the two countries across various sectors.
