(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) KUWAIT, Jan 23 (KUNA) -- The "historic" ties between Kuwait and the United Kingdom, which date back more than two centuries, have always stood the test of time, said Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on Wednesday.
Amid a ceremony marking 120 years since the Anglo-Kuwaiti agreement sparked a robust partnership between Kuwait and the UK that stands to this day, the Kuwaiti foreign minister said bilateral relations have grown stronger over the years.
"The UK has proven to be a trustworthy partner over the years and has stood by Kuwait through thick and thin," the minister emphasized, saying that history is dotted with such instances.
He went on to thank the Kuwaiti ministry of information and the British embassy for organizing the lavish ceremony to "remember an event deeply entrenched in the Gulf state's history." On the Anglo-Kuwaiti agreement of 1899, he said it served as the launchpad for the UK's contributions towards security and peace in Kuwait, efforts the minister pointed out were instrumental in the development of the Gulf state.
Citing Kuwait's independence in 1961 as a great watershed, he said it helped usher in higher levels of camaraderie between the country and the UK.
Britain has always been at the forefront of nations to have helped keep Kuwait out of harm's way, the minister explained, reminiscing about how the UK contributed immensely towards Kuwait's liberation from Iraqi occupation back in 1991.
He applauded Britain's "valor" and unwavering determination to stand by Kuwait during the 1991 Gulf war, an act he said "the Kuwaiti people will forever be grateful for." "Today we remember a milestone event in our illustrious histories," he said, in reference to the Anglo-Kuwaiti agreement of 1899, expressing his eagerness for bilateral ties to reach new levels.
He pinpointed His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's visit to London in 2012 as the catalyst that helped reinvigorate bilateral ties.
Kuwait's foreign minister spoke of "tangible progress" in relations, saying the Gulf state's investments in London have soared over the years, a by-product of the vibrant trade relationship both countries enjoy, with trade volume hitting more than USD 4.5 billion last year.
Ties on the educational front have also been promising, he added, saying the number of Kuwaiti students pursuing higher education in the UK has multiplied, putting the figure at more than 6,000.
The ceremony brought together a bevy of senior Kuwaiti state officials and ministers. (end) tb.nam
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