KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets Acting Premier Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, Bill Gates, and members of the Board of Trustees of Abdulrahman Al-Sumait Prize for African Development. - Amiri Diwan photos

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and Director of Board of Trustees of Abdulrahman Al-Sumait Prize for African Development Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and the Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) Bill Gates, and members of the Board of Trustees of Abdulrahman Al-Sumait Prize for African Development.

Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanem received Gates in his office. The two held a meeting that addressed similarities between the charity BMGF and the State of Kuwait, for both are seeking to offer humanitarian aid and relief efforts to the needy around the globe, regardless of geographical location, religion or ethnicity.

Gates lauded Kuwait's humanitarian and relief role to help the needy and the afflicted people worldwide. He referred to the UN honoring of His Highness the Amir as a 'Humanitarian Leader' and Kuwait as a 'Humanitarian Center.'

Ghanem commended the exceptional efforts by the Foundation, especially in for combating diseases and epidemics in the world's least developed areas. The chief parliamentarian congratulated Gates on the state first-degree award given to him by His Highness the Amir earlier today in appreciation for his tremendous efforts and distinguished tasks in the field of humanitarian and voluntary actions.

In addition, Ghanem voiced Kuwaitis' gratitude to Gates for his recent article on the great works and achievements of the late Dr Abdulrahman Al-Sumait, a Kuwaiti pioneer of relief and charity work in Africa. The meeting was attended by head of the accompanying mission of honor, Amiri Diwan Advisor Dr Yousef Al-Ibrahim, and National Assembly Secretary General Allam Al-Kanderi.

Also yesterday, Gates separately received a number of Kuwaiti businessmen, and representatives of charitable societies and developmental institutions in Kuwait. Gates also visited the Botanical Garden in Bayan Palace. - KUNA