Kuwait, UK sign action plan of joint steering panel for 6 months
‘12,000 Kuwaitis reap rewards of new visa system in 3 mnts’
LONDON, May 26, (KUNA): Kuwait and Britain have signed an action plan of a joint steering committee for the next six months seeking to activate all agreements inked between the two sides and discuss means of removing any possible obstacles.
Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Suleiman Al-Jarallah and British Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Tobias Ellwood signed on Thursday the action plan, in the presence of many representatives of ministries and bodies of the two sides.
They signed the plan following the conclusion of the eighth meeting of the joint Kuwaiti-UK Steering Group that discussed means of enhancing and upgrading cooperation in all fields.
In a joint statement, the two sides stressed the importance of promoting constantly cooperation in the fields of politics, military, security, economy, trade, investment, culture, development, energy and education.
They also focused on removing any possible obstacles, stressing the need to exchange constant visits between the two sides.
They agreed to develop and promote necessarily trade and investment relations through encouraging investment in all vital sectors, and to increase the volume of trade exchange and take part in international exhibitions.
The two sides welcomed signing a memorandum of understanding between Kuwait’s Direct Promotion Authority and the Kuwait British Business Centre that aim to increase cooperation.
Stressed
The Kuwaiti side stressed its eagerness to benefit from British expertise in financial policy, and in training and developing calibers on strategic planning.
On military, they expressed satisfaction about the current cooperation in this vital field, welcoming the deal signed last April between Kuwait and Britain to buy Eurofighter jets.
They said the deal would be an important addition to Kuwait’s army and would enhance its defense capabilities, adding that it would contribute also to fostering strategic relations between the two countries.
They reviewed means of benefiting from British expertise through providing modern training programs on migration, aviation security, and combating organized crimes and terrorism.
As for academic and scientific fields, Al-Jarallah and Ellwood agreed to enhance cooperation between different universities and scientific institutions of the two countries, and discussed means of providing required facilitations to Kuwaitis studying in Britain.
The Kuwaiti side expressed readiness for setting up Kuwait’s cultural week in Britain as part of Nour festival of arts to be held in London on Oct 20 and will run until Nov 7.
Britain welcomed participating in the celebrations to be held on the occasion of Kuwait Capital of Islamic Culture 2016.
The two senior officials underlined the urgency of cooperation in the areas of managing health facilities, training, education and information technology, and of offering required facilitations for Kuwaitis to receive treatment in London.
Regarding international and regional developments, they affirmed the importance of continued joint coordination and exchanging views towards issues facing the region, and of settling peacefully all conflicts.
In this context, Kuwait voiced its gratitude to big efforts exerted by Britain to host, along with some other countries including Kuwait, the Fourth International Humanitarian Pledge Conference for Syria that aimed to alleviate suffering of Syrians.
Ellwood, meanwhile, thanked Kuwait for hosting the UN-brokered peace negotiations between the Yemeni warring parties.
Ellwood and Al-Jarallah called for combating continually all kinds of terrorism and racism, stressing the need to maintain human dignity and freedom of expression which is compatible with the State’s laws and humanitarian values and rejects extremism, hate and contempt of religion.
During the 8th meeting, conferees agreed to hold the ninth one in Kuwait due in November.
Aimed at broadening and deepening a close and historic relationship which dates back decades, the Joint Steering Group was set up during the state visit to the UK of the Kuwaiti Amir, His
Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in December 2012.
Meanwhile, a new electronic visa system has paved the way for some 12,000 Kuwaiti nationals to visit Britain during the last three months, Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Suleiman Al-Jarallah revealed on Thursday.
Jarallah disclosed this information in a statement to KUNA after signing a work plan of a joint British and Kuwait committee, alongside British Minister of Middle East and North African Affairs Tobias Ellwood.
“We continue to work with our British partners to eliminate any hindrances Kuwaiti travelers to Britain, including students and
patients, are faced with, “Jarallah noted, thanking British officials for their support.
On the issue of facilitating visas for Kuwait patients in Britain, Ellwood said, “this issue is currently being reviewed and we seek to address it in a way where the visa system would not be an impediment to the transportation of citizens of both nations.”