Riyadh, January 31, 2024, A joint statement was issued at the conclusion of Amir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The key points of the joint statement are as follows:
1. Historical Ties and Relations:
- Based on deep-rooted historical ties and strong relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait.
- Aim to strengthen bilateral relations and strategic partnership.
2. Official Visit:
- Amir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on January 30, 2024, as a guest of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
3. Meetings:
- Meetings held between the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Amir of the State of Kuwait at the Royal Court in Riyadh.
- Talks between HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and the Amir of Kuwait, reviewing ties and ways to expand them.
4. Recognition of Late Amir's Role:
- Recognition of the constructive role played by the late Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in building and developing ties.
5. Awards and Congratulatory Messages:
- Deputizing for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, HRH the Crown Prince awarded the King Abdulaziz Medal to the Amir of Kuwait.
- Congratulatory messages exchanged regarding Riyadh winning the bid for World Expo 2030 and the Kingdom’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
6. Trade and Investments:
- Satisfaction with the progress of trade relations and bilateral investments.
- Trade volume between the Kingdom and Kuwait reached SAR 11 billion in 2022 and exceeded SAR 6 billion by July 2023.
- Emphasis on expanding Saudi investments in Kuwait's various sectors.
7. Economic Partnership:
- Recognition of the significance of expanded cooperation and economic partnership.
- Leveraging opportunities in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 and Kuwaiti Vision 2035.
8. Areas of Cooperation:
- Agreement to further expand Saudi investments in Kuwait's industrial, communications, logistics, fintech, infrastructure, and real estate development sectors.
- Call for Kuwaiti investors to explore opportunities in the Kingdom, especially in major projects.
- Intent to sign an agreement on avoidance of double taxation.
9. Coordination Council and Cybersecurity:
- Anticipation of the second Saudi-Kuwaiti Coordination Council meeting in Kuwait in 2024.
- Welcome to the memorandum of understanding in the field of cybersecurity and emphasis on boosting cooperation in this domain.
10. Railway Project and Energy Sector:
- Satisfaction with the agreement on the railway project linking Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
- Cooperation in the energy sector, including oil, gas, by-products, and clean technologies.
- Commitment to ensuring sustained global energy supplies.
11. Climate Change and Hydrogen:
- Agreement to strengthen cooperation on international climate policies.
- Emphasis on a circular carbon economy and efforts towards carbon neutrality.
- Intent to collaborate on hydrogen development, transportation, storage, and technology.
12. Innovation and Technology:
- Importance of enhancing cooperation in energy efficiency, renewable energy, communications, technology, digital economy, and innovation.
- Focus on creating an environment supporting innovation, including the use of artificial intelligence.
13. Diverse Cooperation Areas:
- Stress on enhancing cooperation in various areas, including judiciary, justice, transport, ports, logistics, culture, tourism, sports, higher education, scientific research, media, health, and finance.
14. Industrial Integration and Financial Cooperation:
- Intensifying cooperation for industrial integration in priority sectors.
- Exploration of financial institutions' cooperation to provide credit facilities for non-oil goods and products.
15. Defense and Security:
- Reiteration of commitment to increasing cooperation in defense and security to safeguard mutual security and stability.
- Commendation for existing security cooperation and coordination.
16. Technical Cooperation and Territorial Integrity:
- Recognition of the strong collaboration between SASO and PAI of Kuwait in standardization.
- Emphasis on Iraq respecting Kuwait's sovereignty and territorial integrity, aligning with UN resolutions.
17. Maritime Borders and Security Swap Protocol:
- Call for completing the demarcation of the Kuwait-Iraq marine border.
- Opposition to Iraq's unilateral annulment of the security swap protocol and commitment to the agreed-upon procedure for amendment or cancellation.
18. Support for UN Resolutions:
- Reiteration of support for UN resolutions related to the repatriation or return of Kuwaiti and third-country nationals and property from Iraq.
19. Al-Durra Gas Field and Eastern Border:
- Reaffirmation of the entirety of Al-Durra gas field within Kuwait's maritime territory.
- Call on Iran to engage in negotiations concerning the eastern border of the maritime Divided Zone.
20. Regional Concerns - Palestine, Yemen, and Sudan:
- Expression of concern for the humanitarian situation in Gaza Strip.
- Call for a just and comprehensive resolution of the Palestinian issue based on a two-state solution.
- Support for UN and regional efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis.
- Emphasis on preserving the unity, sovereignty, and independence of Sudan without interference.
21. Red Sea Security and Navigation:
- Importance of maintaining security and stability of the Red Sea region, respecting the right to safe navigation according to international
