Kuwait, China near completion of joint ammunition factory
KUWAIT: Deputy Minister of Defense Sheikh Dr Abdullah Meshal Al-Sabah reaffirmed the importance of Kuwaiti Chinese military cooperation, describing it as a 'strategic pathway'.
On the sidelines of a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Kuwait, marking the 98th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), he highlighted Kuwait's participation as a reflection of the strong ties between the two countries, particularly in defense cooperation.
'The Ministry of Defense's presence here today expresses the depth of our military relationship with China, alongside our broader collaboration across various sectors,' he said.
He revealed that Kuwait and China are currently engaged in several joint defense projects, most notably the near completion of a factory for medium and light ammunition.
'This project is a milestone in our cooperation, and its inauguration is expected soon,' Deputy Minister noted. He pointed out that bilateral collaboration extends to national infrastructure, including the development of Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port and major housing initiatives.
The Deputy Minister also emphasized the continuity and annual expansion of training programs between the Kuwaiti and Chinese armed forces. He underscored that Kuwait's defense policy focuses on strengthening ties with Gulf and Arab neighbors while also fostering strategic partnerships with friendly countries worldwide.
During his remarks, Chinese Chargé d'Affaires Liu Xiang announced Senior Colonel Liu Zongzhen as the new Defense Attaché at the Chinese Embassy in Kuwait. He expressed confidence that the newly appointed military envoy would play a pivotal role in deepening defense and diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Chinese Chargé d'Affaires praised Kuwait's consistent support for China's global initiatives, noting that His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was the first Gulf leader to endorse China's Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative. 'China is ready to work hand in hand with Kuwait and other friends to uphold peaceful development, defend multilateralism, and build a shared future for humanity,' he concluded.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kuwait Times
2 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait environmental sustainability constitutes developmental strategic pillar, effective partnerships
KUWAIT: Kuwait is prioritizing environmental concerns as a pivotal and strategic pillar within its national plans and future programs. Over the past two years, the government has intensified its efforts to adopt strategies for environmental sustainability, guided by the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The Cabinet has played a key role in advancing the national vision for environmental sustainability, regularly placing the long-term low-carbon development roadmap at the forefront of its this context, Oil Minister Tareq Al-Roumi and officials from the Environment Public Authority (EPA) presented a visual outline of the roadmap in July. This plan aims to enhance resilience against climate change by employing integrated, innovative, and technical solutions within a circular carbon economy, and it also includes supportive initiatives for environmental innovation and green investment across multiple sectors. Kuwait has strengthened coordination with China to activate memoranda of understanding (MoU) in key areas, such as low-carbon green systems for waste recycling, electrical infrastructure, renewable energy, and the environmental development of sewage treatment facilities. These agreements serve as key components in translating the country's ambitious goals into tangible steps toward a sustainable future aligned with Kuwait Vision 2035. A central aim is to preserve the environment for future generations. In parallel, Kuwait's 2050 Low-Carbon Strategy, launched by the EPA in November 2023 in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme and other state sectors, underscores its commitment to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Kuwait became the second Gulf country to present such a strategy. The country is targeting carbon neutrality by 2060, with a focus on diversifying energy revenue, increasing renewable energy use, replacing fossil fuels with natural gas, and utilizing waste to support environmental sustainability. The first State of the Environment Report, issued by the EPA last year, marks a major milestone in assessing environmental conditions and exemplifies successful cooperation among governmental in collaboration with the UN, the report focuses on seven key areas: Climate change, waste management, water resources, biodiversity, marine and coastal environments, and EPA's efforts have led to the launch of four strategic projects focused on environmental protection, sustainable development, waste management, and combating desertification. These initiatives aim to improve performance indicators and foster public-private partnerships in environmental planning efforts, such as Kuwait's Fourth Structural Plan (2040 Master Plan), promote green buildings and healthier living environments. On the legislative side, Kuwait's environmental protection law includes policies aimed at conserving natural resources and ecosystems. These measures are designed to prevent or reduce air pollution, ensure biodiversity, and promote sustainable living conditions. The law mandates the identification and regulation of fixed pollution sources and enforces penalties for environmental violations. During the recent Sustainable Energy Conference, Kuwait reaffirmed its commitment to achieving a balanced energy mix, aiming for 50 percent of its electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025. In his speech, Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy and Acting Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic and Investment Affairs, Sabeeh Al-Mukhaizeem, emphasized the adoption of comprehensive plans and ambitious projects that align with Kuwait's global commitments and its vision for a sustainable renewable energy strategy involves three tracks: Long-term projects like the Shagaya Renewable Energy Park, short-term solutions, and smaller-scale initiatives requiring all facilities to generate 10 percent of their electricity from renewable sources. The Shagaya project, a public-private partnership, is being developed in two phases: the first will generate 1,100 MW, and the second 500 Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources is also advancing initiatives to expand green cover across the country by planting trees and increasing green spaces in parks and along streets. The authority has implemented plans for artificial barriers and redistributed agricultural areas to help control sand dunes, fight desertification, and mitigate pollution. Public parks remain a cornerstone of Kuwait's environmental efforts, offering diverse green spaces across the has consistently affirmed its commitment to regional and international environmental agreements and has actively collaborated with global organizations in this field. In this context, Sami Dimassi, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) representative and Regional Director for West Asia, praised Kuwait's commitment to developing responsive strategies and action plans that address urgent environmental needs. He highlighted the progress Kuwait has made in promoting environmental initiatives and sustainable development. Ghada Al-Taher, UN Resident Coordinator in Kuwait, lauded the country's active role in environmental sustainability and its participation in initiatives addressing critical issues such as desertification, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss. Kuwait ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1995 and the Kyoto Protocol in 2005 and has consistently participated in global climate the Middle East Green Initiative Summit 2022 in Sharm Al-Sheikh in Egypt, Kuwait reaffirmed its full commitment to the initiative's outcomes-marking a key regional turning point in climate action and a foundation for regional collaboration in combating climate change. — KUNA
Kuwait News Agency
2 hours ago
- Kuwait News Agency
Kuwait Premier departs Saudi Arabia after official visit
حكومة LOC21:29 18:29 GMT NEOM, Saudi Arabia, Aug 4 (KUNA) -- His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and his accompanying delegation departed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after an official one-day visit on Monday. His Highness was seen off by Saudi Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet Prince Turki bin Mohammad bin Fahad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud; Saudi Ambassador to Kuwait Prince Sultan bin Saad bin Khalid Al Saud; Acting Charge d'Affaires at the Embassy of the State of Kuwait to the Kingdom Hamad Ibrahim Al-Salloum; and Kuwait's Consul General in Jeddah and Permanent Representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Yousef Abdullah Al-Tunaib. In a statement prior to his departure, His Highness the Prime Minister expressed his deep thanks and appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its leadership, government, and people, for the warm welcome and generous hospitality he received during his visit, wishing the Kingdom further stability and prosperity. (end) ibi
Arab Times
5 hours ago
- Arab Times
Kuwait's CAS to accept non-Kuwaiti students under new fee structure
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 5: The College of Applied Sciences (CAS), under the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET), has announced that it will begin admitting non-Kuwaiti students starting from the second semester of the 2025/2026 academic year. The decision, approved by Dr. Hassan Al-Fajjam, Director General of PAAET, comes with specific terms and conditions, including a fee-based structure for non-Kuwaiti applicants. The newly approved regulations specify that non-Kuwaiti students must have completed all educational levels within Kuwait and obtained their high school diploma in the country. Applicants must also meet the minimum high school percentage required for Kuwaiti students in the same admission category. Furthermore, applicants must be residents of Kuwait, possessing either a valid civil ID or an illegal resident card. A non-refundable registration fee of 20 KD will be required from applicants. The application will be deemed invalid if incorrect information is provided. The new policy also excludes the possibility of transferring or changing specializations for non-Kuwaiti students once they are admitted. To reward academic excellence, the decision outlines that students who maintain a GPA of 3.80 or higher after two semesters will receive a 50% discount on tuition fees for the following semester. However, it is important to note that students in this category are not eligible for social rewards or any other financial incentives given to Kuwaiti students under Law No. 1 of 1990 and its amendments. Each student will be granted one opportunity for admission under this new system. The decision also allows individuals holding high school certificates that are more than three years old to apply for admission. To qualify, applicants must have achieved a minimum of 90% in their high school studies. A non-refundable fee of 100 KD will be required for those applying with older certificates. The new admission policy comes with specific tuition fees for various programs within the CAS. The registration fee for new certificates is set at 20 KD, while for old certificates, the fee rises to 100 KD. The study unit prices vary by college and program: College of Basic Education: 80 KD per study unit, totaling 10,400 KD for 130 units. College of Business Studies: 80 KD per study unit, totaling 5,440 KD for 68 units. College of Health Sciences: College of Technological Studies: College of Nursing: The decision also includes a list of institutes offering programs for high school graduates, such as the Higher Institute of Communications and Navigation, the Higher Institute of Administrative Services, and the Higher Institute of Energy. For those below high school, the decision outlines registration options at specialized institutes such as the Construction Training Institute, the Shuwaikh Industrial Institute, and others in the training sector. The new policy by the College of Applied Sciences will provide an opportunity for non-Kuwaiti students to access higher education in Kuwait, with clear terms and financial obligations in place. The decision reflects PAAET's commitment to expanding educational opportunities while maintaining high academic standards.
