The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in its statement that Sheikh Jarrah conveyed the greetings of Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and Vice President Han Zheng himself. The foreign minister also passed along wishes for continued progress and prosperity to the Chinese government and people. The discussions occurred as Sheikh Jarrah conducted an official visit to the Chinese capital that day.
Both parties reviewed the longstanding and historic ties that have defined Kuwait-China relations for more than five decades. They considered specific steps to strengthen and broaden the strategic partnership across multiple fields in order to advance shared interests. The ministry’s statement noted that the meeting allowed for a comprehensive exchange on those priorities.
The two officials traded perspectives on the latest regional and international developments along with issues of mutual concern. This conversation fits within the countries’ established practice of regular high-level consultations on global matters. Kuwait has backed China on several political questions in international settings over the years.
China has stood as Kuwait’s largest trading partner for 11 consecutive years with bilateral trade volume reaching 18.58 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, according to the Chinese embassy in Kuwait. Data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity indicates China maintains a trade deficit with Kuwait driven by substantial Kuwaiti energy exports that reached billions annually in recent tallies. The economic linkage has grown steadily since the two sides first signed an agreement on economic and technical cooperation in 1977 that was later revised in 1989.
The countries established diplomatic relations on March 22, 1971, with Kuwait becoming the first Gulf state to recognize the People’s Republic of China, a milestone highlighted in multiple bilateral reviews including those from the Middle East Institute. Kuwait purchased Chinese arms worth 186 million dollars in the 1990s after becoming the first Gulf nation to sign a military cooperation agreement with Beijing in 1995. China supported Kuwait through United Nations resolutions following the 1990 Iraqi invasion while the two sides have maintained close coordination since.
The Beijing meeting adds to a series of senior engagements that have deepened cooperation in energy, infrastructure and other sectors. Kuwaiti and Chinese representatives continue to identify fresh areas for joint projects that align with both nations’ long-term objectives. The ministry indicated that such dialogues help sustain momentum in the overall relationship.
