Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli (R) meets with Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah in Kuwait City Aug. 22, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
KUWAIT CITY, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli said here Tuesday that China is willing to deepen energy cooperation with Kuwait.
Zhang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks while meeting with Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
Zhang said China would like to join Kuwait in nurturing a long-term and stable partnership over the supply and demand of energy, and in deepening their energy cooperation.
China and Kuwait have enjoyed deep and traditional friendship, said Zhang, noting that during a visit to China in 2014, Jaber reached a series of important consensuses with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, which have effectively promote the development of bilateral ties.
He said the two sides have since worked to achieve a steadfast cooperation in all areas, calling on the two countries to volume up exchanges between the two governments, legislatures, and local authorities, and to push forward Kuwait's Silk City project and a plan to develop five islands off the country's coastlines into free trade zones, in a bid to promote bilateral practical cooperation.
Zhang also said that China is ready to enhance investment and finance cooperation with the Arab country, and supports it in building a financial and trade hub in the Gulf area, adding that China welcomes investment from Kuwaiti firms and would continue to encourage Chinese companies to do business in Kuwait.
For his part, Jaber said Kuwait values the traditional friendship with China, and is going to further integrate the Silk City and the "five islands" development projects with China's Belt and Road Initiative.
He also welcomes China's all-round participation in Kuwait's national construction and economic development, and to build a solid foundation for China-Kuwait friendship in a new era.
