EAM Jaishankar meets Kuwaiti leadership to enhance bilateral ties, discuss regional developments

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Sunday met Kuwait’s top leadership and discussed ways to take the bilateral ties to a higher level and also exchanged views on the geopolitical developments in the region.

Jaishankar, who arrived here on Sunday on a day-long visit, called on Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah and sought his insights on taking the bilateral ties to a higher level.

“Conveyed the greetings of the President and Prime Minister,” Jaishankar said in a post on X after he met with the Crown Prince.

“India and Kuwait share centuries-old bonds of goodwill and friendship. Our contemporary partnership is expanding steadily. Thank him for his guidance and insights on taking our ties to a higher level,” he added.

He also called on Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Pleased to call on His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait. Conveyed the greetings of PM @narendramodi. Appreciated his perspectives on the deepening of India-Kuwait ties. Valued his views in regard to further economic cooperation,” Jaishankar said in another post on X.

He thanked the leadership of Kuwait for their guidance in strengthening the bilateral relations between India and Kuwait, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

The bilateral ties and ways of boosting cooperation were touched on during the meeting, state-run news agency KUNA reported.

Jaishankar held a “warm and productive” meeting with Kuwaiti counterpart Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya during which the two leaders “took stock of our broad-based partnership covering political, trade, investment, health, education, people-to-people and connectivity.” “Exchanged views on the geopolitical developments in the region. Confident that our longstanding ties will continue to strengthen in the coming times,” he said.

​The meeting with the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister “provided an opportunity to discuss avenues to further deepen bilateral relations in all spheres, including through greater exchanges of visits at various levels,” the MEA said.

It said that there was a strong interest on both sides for giving more content to the economic partnership, both in trade and investments.

“They also discussed new areas of untapped potential for further enhancing collaboration, particularly in pharma, technology, education, etc. Further stream-lining of labour and manpower issues and their implementation was stressed, the MEA said.

Both ministers also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, it added.

Al-Yahya also hosted a lunch banquet in honour of Jaishankar and the accompanying delegation.

Jaishankar also had a “good interaction” with the Indian community in Kuwait. “Commend their achievements and contribution to India-Kuwait relations,” he wrote on X.

The minister “met a cross-section of prominent members of the Indian community in Kuwait as well as representatives of various professional and community associations. The large and vibrant Indian community in Kuwait continues to be a living bridge between the two countries,” the MEA statement said.

“The visit was instrumental in imparting a fresh momentum to our bilateral relations and preparing a framework for forthcoming exchanges and concrete deliverables,” it added. ​ His comes nearly two months after 45 Indians had died in a devastating fire at a building in Kuwait. At least 49 foreign workers were killed and 50 others injured in the fire in June at the seven-storey building in Kuwait.