On May 22, 2022, Ambassador Zhang Jianwei, the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the State of Kuwait, arrived in Kuwait City to assume office. Ambassador Zhang was greeted at the airport by the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait and other principals of the Chinese Embassy in Kuwait.

Ambassador Zhang said at the airport that Kuwait, a shining jewel in the Gulf and an oasis of safety in the Middle East, is the first Gulf Arab country to establish diplomatic relations with China. It is also the first among Middle East countries to ink a cooperation agreement on the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with China. Since the two countries established a diplomatic relationship in 1971, China and Kuwait have always treated each other as equals and worked hand in hand with each other, becoming trustworthy friends and partners bonded by sincere cooperation, he noted, adding that in particular, the establishment of China-Kuwait strategic partnership marks a new chapter of bilateral relations. Led by the two presidents, the friendly exchanges and practical cooperation between our two sides have flourished in a way that benefits the two countries and peoples and also gives constant and positive impetus to the peace and development of the Middle East.

Noting that China-Kuwait relations have embarked on the journey of another 50 years, Ambassador Zhang stressed that it is therefore more important for both sides to preserve the longstanding friendship, consolidate political mutual trust, foster greater synergy between the BRI and the Kuwait Vision 2035, deepen and expand bilateral cooperation on various fronts, saying that this will improve the wellbeing of the two peoples and promote regional development and prosperity. “As the new Chinese Ambassador to Kuwait, I look forward to working with friends in all sectors in a vigorous and determined way to implement the important consensus between Chinese and Kuwaiti leaders and lift China-Kuwait strategic partnership to new heights”, he pledged.

Ambassador Zhang is the fourteenth Chinese Ambassador to the State of Kuwait.