Kuwaiti Ambassador to the UAE Salah Al-Buaijan seen with other dignitaries. —KUNA

KUWAIT: Kuwait's embassies and diplomatic missions in the Netherlands, Tunisia, the UAE, and Algeria held several receptions on the occasion of the 55th National Day and the 25th Liberation Day, and the 10th anniversary of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The celebrations were attended by a huge crowd of Arab and foreign diplomats in addition to other officials.

Kuwaiti Ambassadors to the Netherlands, Tunisia, the UAE, and Algeria-Hafth Al-Ajmi, Ali Ahmad Al-Dhafiri, Salah Al-Buaijan, and Mohammad Al-Shabu respectively, released statements congratulating the Kuwaiti leadership, headed by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on the advent of the national celebrations. They also took the chance to wish the leadership and people of Kuwait evermore development and prosperity in the future. The receptions' attendees also expressed their sincere wishes for development and success towards the leadership and people of Kuwait.

Bahrain, Japan

Also, Kuwait's embassies in Bahrain and Japan late Monday held ceremonies to celebrate the 55th National Day and the 25th Liberation Day. Attending the celebration in Kuwait Embassy in Manama, Bahraini Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa praised the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who developed the country on all levels. Moreover, he congratulated His Highness the Amir, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah as well as the Kuwaiti people on the occasion.

On his part, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Bahrain Sheikh Azzam Al-Sabah also congratulated the Kuwaiti leadership on the national anniversaries. The official meanwhile, mentioned the prominent ten-year achievements of His Highness the Amir, both on the local and international levels. Meanwhile in Tokyo, the embassy held a large reception for some 900 guests including Minister for Disaster Management Taro Kono, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Miki Yamada and other high-ranking officials.

In her speech at the event, Yamada offered sincere gratitude for the heart-warming support by Kuwait in response to the 9.0-magnitude earthquake-tsunami disaster in northeastern region in March 2011. As part of the financial aid from Kuwait following the tragedy, she shed light on the opening of a brand new outdoor exhibition facility last July at the tsunami-damaged Aquamarine Fukushima, which is widely loved by the people of the northeastern region.

Yamada also underlined the historical visit to Japan by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in 2012, which was followed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Kuwait in 2013, during which Japan and Kuwait determined to deepen the bilateral relationships to a comprehensive partnership.

Governor of Fukushima Prefecture Masao Uchibori on his part, said the prefecture has been stepping forward to revive. "The people of Kuwait have given us a lot of warm support since immediately after the disaster and strongly backed the revitalization process. I am strongly encouraged by Ambassador Al-Otaibi's remark that Fukushima is his true friend, and his visits to the prefecture," said Uchibori.

For his part, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Japan Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi hailed the great efforts that disaster-stricken prefectures and the Japanese government have been making to overcome the catastrophe. "I reiterate Kuwait's support to these efforts, building on the strong relations between our countries and people," the ambassador said. He also highlighted Kuwait's remarkable contributions through international organizations and specialized agencies in addition to the assistance that Kuwait Fund for Economic Development (KFAED) has been providing since its establishment in 1961, to alleviate humanitarian sufferings anywhere around the world. - Agencies