A+ A-

Lawmakers satisfied with results of Brunei visit

BANDAR-SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei, June 8 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti MPs here, Sunday, expressed satisfaction with results of the visit of a Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation to Brunei, and the atmosphere and results of meetings with senior officials.
The delegation is presided over by Deputy National Assembly Speaker Mubarak Al-Khurainej.
MP Mohammad Al-Huwailah told KUNA this was a "historical visit" and noted the pinnacle was the meeting with Crown Prince and Senior Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, who had visited Kuwait himself last March.
The two nations have a great deal in common, he said, and noted religion, small geographical size, small population, and heavy reliance on oil by way of example. The MP stressed the last point was of great interest, and so the two sides focused on research and development as well as investment, both locally and off-shore to diversify the economy.
Brunei's crown prince had proposed setting up a USD 100 million joint investment fund during his Kuwait visit, and the Kuwaiti delegation stressed the importance of this proposal to both countries and the need to implement it with all due haste.
MP Hamdan Al-Azmi for his part said this was the first parliamentary delegation to visit Brunei, and that this is a great development which would help both parties learn from each other's experiences. The two nations need to bolster relations in economy and investment as well as parliamentary action, he remarked.
Kuwait's policy of seeking strong relations with all nations, and in this case with Brunei, had resulted in the latter's support of Kuwait's nomination for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council back in 2007, and other supportive stances by other Arab and Islamic nations.
MP Mohammad Al-Hadya also noted that the two nations share genuine keenness on bolstering cooperation and exchange. The stature of officials with which the delegation had met and the invitation extended to both the Kuwaiti finance minister and head of Kuwait Investment Authority attest to the success of this visit, he added.
Prior to starting the Brunei visit, the delegation had visited Sri Lanka. The MPs accompanying Al-Khurainej are Saleh Ashour, Mohammad Al-Huwailah, Mohammad Al-Hadya, Hamdan Al-Azmi, and Majed Mousa.(end) sss.wsa