LOC13:53
10:53 GMT
KUWAIT, July 12 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya said Saturday that the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to France would reflect the depth of the historical relations between the two countries.
In a statement to KUNA, Al-Yahya said that Kuwaiti-French relations span more than six decades of constructive cooperation and political understanding, noting that His Highness the Amir's visit represents an important milestone in strengthening the strategic partnership.
He added that the visit program includes high-level meetings with senior French officials, in addition to the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding in various fields, including infrastructure, education, defense, and culture.
He explained that the visit would open new horizons for political, economic, and investment cooperation in line with the priorities of the National Development Plan (New Kuwait 2035).
Al-Yahya described France as Kuwait's reliable international partner, appreciating France's supportive stances on its security and stability.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is scheduled to begin an official visit to France on Sunday.
The Kuwaiti-French relations date back to August 28, 1961, when Paris assigned its Beirut ambassador as envoy to Kuwait and established commercial representation in the Gulf State before establishing the diplomatic ties with Kuwait in 1967.
In the cultural field, the two sides signed a cooperation agreement in 1969, which contributed to sending Kuwaiti students to leading French universities and supporting training programs, graduate studies, and joint research.
The year 2015 saw the signing of eight agreements covering culture, education, and the social sciences, most notably the establishment of the French Center for Archeology and Social Sciences in Kuwait.
Their bilateral cooperation continued with the signing of three important agreements during the visit of French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot to Kuwait in April 2025.
These agreements included a declaration of intent for cooperation in the field of energy, a memorandum of understanding on energy efficiency and energy transition, and an agreement to exchange classified information in the defense field. (end)
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