China, Kuwait eye closer friendship, cooperation  

李克强晤科威特首相：深化中科友好关系与互利合作

李克强表示，科威特是最早同中国建交的海湾阿拉伯国家，两国业已成为相互信赖的好朋友和真诚合作的好伙伴。中方愿同科方加强高层交往和政治互信，在涉及彼此核心利益和重大关切问题上相互支持，推动中科关系迈上新台阶。 [查看全文]

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held talks with Kuwaiti Prime minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah in Beijing on Tuesday and they pledged to cement friendship and boost cooperation between the two nations.

Hailing China and Kuwait as trustworthy friends and sincere partners, Li said the Chinese side stands ready to increase high-level interactions and enhance political mutual trust with the Kuwaiti side, and support each other with Kuwait on issues involving their core interests and major concerns to lead the bilateral relationship to a new height.

The Chinese premier proposed the two countries expand cooperation in trade, investment, finance and infrastructure construction and other areas.

China is willing to participate in Kuwait's railway projects and also welcomes the Kuwaiti side to the building of the Silk Road economic belt and the 21st century maritime Silk Road as well as the preparation for an Asian infrastructure investment bank, Li said.

On energy cooperation, Li hopes the Kuwaiti side will open up the upstream oil and gas industry to Chinese companies.

[Read more: China and Kuwait sign energy agreements]

He also suggested the two countries increase people-to-people exchanges to promote their mutual understanding and enhance coordination in international and regional affairs to safeguard peace and stability.

Li said the Chinese side attaches great importance to the relationship with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the League of Arab States, and is appreciative of Kuwait's efforts to promote the relationship.

The GCC, a regional political and economic alliance set up in 1981, includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. China started FTA negotiations with the bloc in July, 2004 and had five rounds of talks and two panel meetings before talks stalled after 2009.