KUWAIT: HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (left) receives Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir at Bayan Palace yesterday. – KUNA

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Bayan Palace yesterday the visiting President of Sudan Omar Al-Bashir and his accompanying delegation. The meeting was held in presence of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

After the reception, the official round of talks began with the meeting chaired by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf on the Kuwaiti side, while President Bashir headed the Sudanese delegation. Deputy Minister of the Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah said that the meeting focused on bilateral relations and means to develop them. After the meeting, His Highness the Amir hosted a luncheon in honor of the visiting Sudanese President and his delegation.

The Sudanese President arrived in Kuwait yesterday on a two-day official visit. He was received at the airport by His Highness the Amir, His Highness the Crown Prince, and Deputy Minister of the Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah in addition to senior officials from the army, the police, and Kuwait National Guard (KNG).  The honorary delegation is be headed by advisor at the Amiri Diwan Khaled Yusuf Al-Fuleij.

The Sudanese President's visit is a historic one, said Kuwaiti Ambassador in Khartoum Bassam Al-Qabandi, adding that the Kuwaiti-Sudanese relations are deep-rooted and distinguished, and have witnessed quantum leaps through exchanging visits of officials from the two countries. The State of Kuwait is paying much attention to the visit as it is expected to contribute to boosting bilateral cooperation, which could benefit interest of the two nations, he said.

The ambassador revealed that Kuwait was a first country, which invested in Sudan, as the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development had provided the first loan to Sudan in 1962 to establish railways. Kuwait has a pioneering role in supporting all investments in the areas of economy and development in Sudan that have contributed to stability and prosperity in that Arab country, he stressed. There are a number of cooperation fields and agreements, which need to be activated, he said, indicating that officials of the two countries are going to hold meetings on the sidelines of the visit.

As for military cooperation, Qabandi said some 136 Kuwaiti cadets are studying at Sudan's military academy, and 46 others graduated last February. Some 56 Kuwait officers are studying at the college of command and general staff of Sudan for a year, he said. - KUNA