KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received on Tuesday a telephone call from Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tareq, discussing the historic and distinctive relations between the two brotherly countries. His Highness the Amir and the Sultan of Oman also pondered mutual cooperation between the two countries in various arenas and preventive measures taken in the two states to halt spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The sultan wished His Highness the Amir full wellbeing and further progress and prosperity for the State of Kuwait under the sagacious leadership of His Highness the Amir. His Highness the Amir expressed deep gratitude to the sultan, manifesting identical sentiments for him, his country and people.

GCC cooperation
In the meantime, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anas Al-Saleh has voiced Kuwait's eagerness to boost cooperation among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states to secure the region's security and national interests amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. In a press statement following a meeting for interior ministers in the GCC states held Tuesday via video conference, Salah, also minister of state for cabinet affairs, unveiled that the conferees have discussed a variety of key security issues related to the coronavirus pandemic.

The meeting, held at a delicate time as the world is facing the novel coronavirus, tackled the latest developments related to the killer virus spread and the best practices in the fight against it, said the minister. He pointed out the GCC ministers have assigned the General Secretariat of the pan-Arabian Gulf organization to organize similar meetings in the future to help member states coordinate security response to the pandemic when need arises. The meeting was chaired by the United Arab Emirates' Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Int'l coordination
In other news, His Highness Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on Tuesday received a telephone call from Nepalese counterpart KP Sharma Oli, addressing bonds between the two countries and the current combat against the pandemic. The two prime ministers, during the call, discussed bilateral relations between the two countries, mechanisms of beefing up these bonds in various sectors, in addition to regional and international issues of common concern.

Moreover, His Highness the Prime Minister and the Nepalese premier addressed developments related to spread of COVID-19 on the international arena and preventive measures by the two friendly countries to stem the virus and deal with its repercussions.

They also pondered coordination between the two countries as well as necessity of international cooperation and placing all resources for combating the pandemic. Sharma Oli expressed deep gratitude for the State of Kuwait, namely His Highness the Amir, the government and people, for the substantial care granted for the Nepalese community in the country, in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah on Tuesday received a telephone call from his Sri Lankan counterpart Dinesh Gunawardena. The two sides discussed the close relations between the two countries and fallouts of the novel coronavirus. - KUNA