Manama: Kuwait’s Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad will start his four-day official visit to Turkey on Monday during which he will hold talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two leaders will discuss ways to boost bilateral relations and the latest regional developments.
Shaikh Sabah’s visit to Turkey is part of the keen interest of the two countries to boost cooperation in political, security and economic fields, the Kuwait News Agency (Kuna) reported.
Relations between the two countries, which are based on mutual respect and common interests, have been moving from the level of friendship to partnership, the Kuna said.
The two countries and their people are closely bound by deep-rooted Islamic, historical and cultural ties that can help enhance bilateral relations. Kuwait and Turkey established diplomatic relations in 1970 and the same year they signed a cooperation deal on transportation.
When Saddam Hussain invaded Kuwait in 1991, Turkey was quick to condemn the Iraqi invasion.
The then-Emir of Kuwait, Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah visited Ankara later that year to thank Turkey for its support.
In October 1997, former Turkish President Sulaiman Demirel visited Kuwait and held talks with Shaikh Jaber on expanding bilateral ties.
The two leaders signed agreements to prevent dual taxation and to boost cultural cooperation.
Shaikh Sabah also visited Ankara in 2008 and signed seven agreements in various fields and the two countries decided to form a joint high commission co-chaired by their foreign ministers.
From 2008 to 2014, the two countries signed several agreements at the ministerial level, including an MoU on the exchange of military expertise, protection of the environment, maritime transport, preservation of natural resources and promoting industrial exports.
In 2009, Shaikh Sabah led the Kuwaiti delegation to the 25th conference of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC) and held talks with then President Abdallah Gul on ways to boost bilateral relations.
In April last year, Shaikh Sabah led the Kuwaiti delegation to Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit and in May to the World Humanitarian Summit held in Istanbul.
Former Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited Kuwait three times, in 2009, 2011 and 2014, as part of the efforts to consolidate bilateral relations.
President Erdogan visited Kuwait in April 2015, and in 2005 and 2011, when he was the prime minister of Turkey.
Trade between the two countries reached $700 million in 2016.
