Chinese Ambassador: Our partnership with Kuwait has entered the "fast lane"
- Kuwait is well-positioned to become a regional logistics hub... and we are expanding our partnership with it under the Belt and Road Initiative
- We are fully satisfied with the current state of our relations... and we look forward to deepening cooperation in trade and investment
- Security and military cooperation represent an important dimension of our relations... and implementation of the water treatment project will begin soon
- Artificial intelligence, smart cities, and cybersecurity... new drivers for expanding the scope of our partnership
Yang Xin, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Kuwait, affirmed that Kuwaiti-Chinese relations are experiencing growing momentum and rapid development. He noted that bilateral cooperation has entered a “faster track” thanks to the strategic guidance of the leadership of both countries, with the horizons of partnership expanding to encompass energy, infrastructure, logistics, technology, and security.
In remarks to journalists on Monday, on the sidelines of a reception hosted by the embassy to mark National Day, the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Kuwait, attended by Dr. Subhi Al-Mukhizeem, Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy, along with several ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the country, Ambassador Yang Xin stated that the current year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
He emphasized that Kuwait and China established a strategic partnership in 2018, affirming that his country is “fully satisfied with the current state of bilateral relations” and looks forward to continuing to deepen comprehensive cooperation to deliver greater benefits to the peoples of both nations.
Ambassador Yang Xin added that the two countries are working to enhance the high-quality alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with “Kuwait Vision 2035,” thereby opening broader prospects for cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, and construction, as well as in the development of ports, logistics zones, and supply chains.
He affirmed that Kuwait’s distinguished geographical position enables it to leverage its advantages to build a regional logistics hub linking Asia and Europe, with the potential to extend its connectivity to Africa. He noted China’s readiness to deepen cooperation with Kuwait in developing ports and infrastructure, and to enhance collaboration in logistics and supply chains, in a manner that achieves mutual benefit and shared development.
Regarding strategic projects, he clarified that some construction projects have been affected by regional developments but remain ongoing. He pointed out that the contract for the water treatment project has been signed, with implementation works set to begin soon, and expressed his expectation that additional contracts will be signed within the current year.
In the energy sector, Yang Xin affirmed that China and Kuwait are “important energy partners to each other,” explaining that China has long been a major importer of Kuwaiti crude oil, while Kuwait remains among the top ten oil suppliers to China.
He stated that his country is ready to continue deepening cooperation in the oil and gas sectors, contributing to enhancing energy security and economic security for both countries, while also looking forward to expanding cooperation in the new energy sector.
He noted that the cooperation documents signed in the presence of the leadership of both countries included projects in the new energy field, expressing China’s hope that renewable energy will become a “new highlight and a new growth driver” in Chinese-Kuwaiti cooperation in the near future.
In the fields of technology and emerging sectors, the Ambassador stated that China is ready to continue cooperation with Kuwait in traditional sectors while simultaneously identifying new growth drivers, including artificial intelligence, the digital economy, smart cities, and cybersecurity. This will broaden the scope of the partnership and open new horizons for cooperation in advanced technology sectors.
In the security and military domain, Yang Xin affirmed that cooperation between China and Kuwait constitutes an important aspect of bilateral relations, noting the existence of good relations between the two countries in this field.
He explained that the cooperation encompasses the armed forces of both countries, pointing out that the ammunition factory in Kuwait began operations at the beginning of this year. He also noted the continued exchange of visits and students between the two sides, affirming China’s aspiration to continue expanding security and military cooperation in the coming phase.
Regarding China-Gulf relations, Ambassador Yang Xin affirmed that “all Gulf Arab states are close friends of China,” emphasizing that the shared relations go far beyond the scope of energy cooperation to include political trust, joint economic development, and the leveraging of the rich cultural heritage of both sides. He stated that in a rapidly changing world, both sides agree on the necessity of upholding international law, international humanitarian law, the United Nations Charter, and the basic norms of international relations. He affirmed that China supports the peoples of the Middle East, including the Gulf states, in taking charge of their own destinies and playing a greater role in international and regional affairs.
Yang Xin affirmed that since the outbreak of fighting in the Middle East, China has worked to promote a ceasefire and de-escalation of tensions, while also working to restore normal navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. He noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping has adopted a number of initiatives and policies aimed at promoting a ceasefire, affirming the continuation of Chinese efforts to reduce escalation and find solutions to the crisis. The Ambassador affirmed that the Strait of Hormuz represents a vital international trade route for goods and energy, and that maintaining the security and stability of the region and ensuring freedom and smoothness of navigation serves the common interest of the international community. He expressed his hope that all parties will work together to resume normal navigation in the strait as soon as possible.
Ambassador Yang Xin stated that the Chinese economy has maintained strong momentum of stable and positive growth this year, explaining that gross domestic product grew by 4.7 percent year-on-year in the first half of the year, an increase of 3.6 trillion yuan, which is the largest increase recorded during the same period over the past five years.
He explained that new growth drivers, including advanced manufacturing, the smart digital economy, and modern services, contributed more than 40 percent of this growth. He affirmed that China possesses the confidence and capacity to continue achieving the “miracle of rapid economic development and long-term social stability,” and to open new horizons for the path of Chinese modernization.
