Under the framework of their Belt and Road cooperation, China is working closely on the "Silk City and Five Islands" development project with Kuwait
In office since Dec 28, 2018, as the 13th ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Kuwait, I have met many government officials and visited many local people. The development of this small desert country is really striking to me.
Kuwait's territory is only 17,800 square kilometers, slightly larger than Beijing, but it ranks fifth in the world's oil reserves with 10 percent of the total. Since the 1970s, its petroleum industry has soared, with huge oil revenues laying a solid foundation for improving the country's social welfare system. The country has a cross-desert highway transportation network, the second largest business center in the Middle East, sound community services, free education and medical care and generous allowances.
However, with 90 percent of the revenues coming from its oil, the country also has concerns over its oil-based mono-structure economy and poor development sustainability. Against the backdrop of the sluggish world economic recovery and the fluctuation in oil prices, the task for economic diversification, industrial restructuring and accelerated industrialization seem somewhat formidable.
For a long time, its business ties connected the Indian Ocean, West Asia and Europe, but Kuwait has expanded its focus with the"2035 National Vision", which has identified a broader scope of key industries including finance, trade, tourism and exhibitions. The aim is to build the country into a regional business and financial hub by mobilizing private enterprises in the economy, and establishing a society with balanced social welfare and justice. Among all its proposed projects, the "Silk City and Five Islands" project in the north has become the top priority of Kuwait to promote the"2035 National Vision" plan.
Kuwait has actively responded to the Belt and Road Initiative after it was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013. In April 2014, Kuwait became the first country in the world to sign a Belt and Road Initiative cooperation document with China. Both sides believe that the Belt and Road Initiative is highly compatible with the"2035 National Vision", and Kuwait is willing to borrow China's strength and experience. In the first Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2017, this point was made by Prince Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Kuwait's first deputy prime minister and defense minister.
Recent years have seen China-Kuwait cooperation entering the fast lane with top-level exchanges leading the way. In July 2018, Emir Sabah visited China for talks with President Xi, in which the two leaders planned a strategic blueprint for the future step-up in the development of bilateral relations.
Now down-to earth cooperation between the two countries is being carried out under the Belt and Road framework. The achievements can be seen in such fields as trade, energy, and infrastructure. As Kuwait's largest source of imports, its second largest export destination, and its largest non-oil trading partner, China had a total trade volume of $18.7 billion with Kuwait in 2018, realizing a year-on-year increase of 55.1 percent. And, with Kuwait being China's ninth largest source of crude oil imports, China imported 23.21 million tons of its crude oil from Kuwait in 2018, with a total value of $11.9 billion. In the past six years, China has built several construction projects in Kuwait, such as the management facilities project of the University of Kuwait, oil field services and exploration projects, a road construction project, and a liquid natural gas terminal project. By the end of 2018, there were 120 engineering projects contracted with China-funded enterprises in the country, with a total value of $21.6 billion. Among them, the Central Bank of Kuwait's new headquarters building, built by China Construction Group Corporation, is a landmark building, and it appears on the sixth edition of Kuwait's 5-dinar currency note.
Bilateral cultural exchanges have also promoted the friendship between the Chinese and Kuwaiti peoples. The visits to Kuwait by Chinese art and entertainment organizations in recent years have been welcomed just like the medical aid teams which the Chinese government has been sending every two years since 1976. In 2017, an agreement on a Chinese cultural center in Kuwait was signed, and now the program is well under way. It is believed that travel between the two countries will become more convenient since authorities of the two governments are actively making efforts to facilitate visa arrangements.
At present, the two countries are working closely on the "Silk City and Five Islands" development projects within the Belt and Road framework. The Kuwait cabinet has publicly stated that it would use China's experience in developing the "Silk City and Five Islands" project. Not long ago, the first meeting of the Steering Committee of the "Silk City and the Five Islands" Construction Cooperation was called under the co-chairmanship of the two sides to discuss issues concerning cooperation in establishing the Expert Advisory Committee, the legislation and planning for the "Silk City and Five Islands", and the construction of the Mubarak Al Kabeer Port and a trade logistics park. The Chinese side has made it clear that it is willing to help in these projects with all means available to contribute to Kuwait's development and to its people's pursuit of a better life.
It is believed that China and Kuwait, which are both on the road of reform and development, will continue to gather strength along the Belt and Road, and their cooperation will yield more fruitful results for the benefit of the two peoples.
Editor:Cherie
