KUWAIT: In this file photo, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah welcomes Egyptian President Abdelfattah Al-Sisi during his visit to Kuwait in 2015. - KUNA

KUWAIT: Egyptian President Abdelfattah Al-Sisi is set to have talks with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on bilateral relations, a host of regional and international affairs during his scheduled visit to the State of Kuwait starting today. President Sisi's mission to the country, his second since proclaimed president of Egypt in June 2014, comes amid noticeable growth of the relations between the two countries in various realms.

The Kuwaiti-Egyptian bonds, established many years ago, are exemplary; for the two countries have repeatedly stood on each other's sides at hard times. Egypt robustly sided with Kuwait in facing the 1990 Iraqi Invasion and its troops took part in the 1991 liberation of the Gulf country. Kuwait meanwhile supported Egypt during the 1967 aggression and the 1973 war with Israel. These close relations have grown stronger and warmer with time, particularly after Kuwait proclaimed independence in 1961.

Cairo hosted the late Amir, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, three times during 1964. He also went to the North African Arab nation several times during the era of the late president Jamal Abdulnasser. He was the last leader to bid Abdulnasser goodbye after the 1970 Arab summit before the latter's demise. Later on during the presidency of the late Anwar Al-Sadat, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem conducted several missions to Cairo for talks on bilateral issues as well as attending the 1976 Arab summit for Lebanon.

The ex-president Hosni Mubarak came to Kuwait four times since taking office in 1981. Meanwhile, the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah paid an official visit to Cairo in 1989. Mubarak was among the first leaders to come to Kuwait after the liberation to congratulate the Kuwaitis on the occasion.

Mubarak also came to Kuwait during the era of the current Amir His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, cementing further the close links between the two countries. He was here in 2009 for the Arab economic summit. His Highness the Amir hosted the former president Adly Mansour in 2013, and attended the coronation of President Abdelfattah Al-Sisi in June 2014. The latter came to Kuwait for the first time in 2015. - KUNA