LOC18:38
15:38 GMT
LONDON, Sept 22 (KUNA) -- The UK-Kuwait Joint Steering Group has concluded a joint meeting by agreeing to keep working together in all fields in order to promote bilateral relations.
This came during a group meeting jointly presided over by Kuwait's Deputy Foreign Minister Majdi Al-Dhefiri and UK Minister for Middle East and North Africa James Cleverly in London on Wednesday.
The group said in a final communique that bilateral cooperation would focus on trade, investment, security, defense, cybersecurity, health care, education, higher education, scientific research and culture.
Both sides spoke highly of the great role played by the steering group in the promotion of bilateral cooperation between both friendly countries.
They underlined the need to exert concerted efforts to address the ramifications of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19), according to the statement.
During the meeting, they voiced satisfaction with the progress made in the project of an aviation training college and a maritime academy, said the statement.
The Kuwaiti side applauded Britain's cooperation for meeting Kuwait's defensive needs in the field of anti-drone systems amid relevant risks and threats to civilian facilities.
They also appreciated the outcomes of the current discussions between both sides for putting in place a joint memo of understanding on a Kuwaiti national information security strategy.
On economic and trade cooperation, they commended the steady growth of the two-way trade exchange, which hit nearly 3 billion pounds, while stressing eagerness to maintain the influx of joint investments.
Furthermore, both sides welcomed the signing of a memo of understanding in the digital domain between the Central Bank of Kuwait and Bank of England, which will be signed during the CBK governor's visit to London next week.
With 9,000 Kuwaiti students studying in the UK, Kuwait and London highlighted that the UK remains a main destination for Kuwaiti students, according to the statement.
Finally, they agreed to carry on working together to support education in developing countries in order to serve women in particular, while welcoming continued cooperation between the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) and the British Department for International Development in an array of development domains. (end)
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