LOC08:58
05:58 GMT
By Adnan Al-Failkawi
KUWAIT, July 23 (KUNA) -- His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser
Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah will embark on an Asian tour on Thursday --
taking him to Brunei, Japan, South Korea, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand
-- aimed at boosting Kuwait's exiting friendly relations with these countries.
The tour, set for July 24 to August 14, is expected to give a push forward
for economic partnership and cooperation between Kuwait and these individual
states.
His Highness Sheikh Nasser, who was appointed premier in February 2006,
embarked on his first tour as head of his country's government in September
2006. This saw him in Germany, France, Georgia and Romania and focused on
economic and commercial relations.
In January 2007, he accompanied His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf
Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on a Gulf tour that saw them in Saudi Arabia,
Qatar, the UAE and Bahrain. They discussed cooperation within the GCC and
regional security.
On April 3 of the same year, His Highness Sheikh Nasser responded to an
invitation by his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyep Erdogan, and the two sides
discussed hot topics of mutual concern and signed a number of commercial and
investment agreements.
Following this, on April 8, 2007, His Highness Sheikh Nasser arrived in
Dakar, Senegal, where he inaugurated Kuwait's first investment project there
-- a five star hotel -- and also held talks on bilateral relations. He was
awarded the nation's medal of honor, and the two sides also signed several
agreements.
Meanwhile on May 17, 2006, His Highness the Prime Minister participated in
the World Economic Forum held at the Jordanian Dead Sea resort.
On May 22, 2007, he embarked on an Asian tour that included Vietnam,
Malaysia, Indonesia, East Timor and Singapore. The focus was on bilateral
relations and issues of mutual concern.
Three agreements in the fields of economy, politics and science were signed
with Vietnam. In Malaysia an agreement was signed for the exchange of
accreditation documents for avoiding dual taxation and preventing tax evasion.
As for Indonesia, agreements were signed for the establishment of a joint
committee, cooperation in the field of youth and sports, and another in
agriculture. His Highness the Prime Minister was awarded the medal of highest
honor by the Indonesian president.
In East Timor, an agreement was signed for economic and technical
cooperation. And in the final stop, Singapore, agreements were signed in the
fields of tourism, culture and petrochemicals.
On May 28, 2007, His Highness Sheikh Nasser delivered a speech before the
World Islamic Economic Forum in Kuala Lumpur, in which he underscored the
Muslim nation's need for coordination and consolidation in order to face
global challenges.
Before the end of 2007, on December 12, His Highness Sheikh Nasser embarked
on a European tour that saw him in Albania and Belgium. Agreements were signed
with Albania for establishing a joint committee, deliberation between the
foreign ministries of the two countries, economic and technical cooperation,
protection of mutual investment, tourism, cultural cooperation, and
cooperation between the two commerce chambers.
In Belgium, His Highness Sheikh Nasser participated in a political and
economic forum between Kuwait and the EU.
In February of this year, he toured several Arab states, namely Syria,
Egypt and Jordan, aimed at boosting bilateral relations.
He also represented His Highness the Amir at the economic conference for
the Middle East and North Africa in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, in May of this
year. (end)
adf.ema
KUNA 230858 Jul 08NNNN