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State Visit of
His Highness Shaikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber
Al-Sabah, Amir
of the State of Kuwait, to India
from June
14-19, 2006
The Amir of the State of Kuwait His Highness Sheikh
Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah paid a State Visit
to India from June 14-19, 2006.
During the visit, His Highness the Amir held wide
ranging and very fruitful talks with the President
of India His Excellency Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and
the Prime Minister of India His Excellency Dr.
Manmohan Singh. In their meetings, the leaders of
the two countries recalled the historical ties
between India and Kuwait and noted that the mutually
beneficial and traditionally close interaction,
which has existed between the peoples of the two
countries over several generations, had stood the
test of time. They stressed the need for
consolidating this relationship and building a
strong partnership for the 21st century
between the two countries in keeping with their
responsibility for promoting peace,
stability and security in the region and the world.
The leaders of the two sides expressed satisfaction
with the current state of bilateral relations and,
recognising the considerable existing mutual
goodwill, underlined the need for its continuance by
the new generation of the two countries.
They welcomed the conclusion of various agreements
during the visit of His Highness the Amir of the
State of Kuwait to India. They acknowledged that
these agreements and those already existing would
strengthen the framework for the consolidation of
friendship and cooperation between India and Kuwait.
They noted with
satisfaction the steady progress being made in
bilateral economic and commercial cooperation
between the two countries and expressed the
confidence that the considerable potential that
exists would be fully utilized to mutual benefit.
To achieve this they agreed that Ministerial and
official level exchanges between India and Kuwait
would be intensified. It was also agreed that the
India-Kuwait Joint Commission for Economic and
Commercial Cooperation would hold its next session
in the last quarter of 2006 and take stock of the
current state of bilateral economic cooperation and
identify avenues for further strengthening it. The
two sides agreed that the Commission would meet
regularly and frequently. They agreed to set up
Working Groups on investment; energy and
petrochemicals; labour and manpower development and
other areas as necessary. The Working Groups would
meet in the second half of July 2006 in New Delhi
and would submit their reports to the Joint
Commission.
Both sides noted
that there were considerable opportunities for the
development of bilateral economic, trade and
investment cooperation and that steps would be taken
to actively promote investment cooperation in all
sectors including petroleum and petrochemicals,
fertilizers, energy, civil aviation and
infrastructure in each other’s countries.
They would encourage private and public sector
participation in this regard. The Indian side
welcomed the proposal of the Kuwaiti side to
establish a holding company to promote investment in
both countries.
The State of Kuwait as
a major oil producer with substantial hydrocarbon
reserves and the Republic of India as a major and
growing consumer of hydrocarbons recognized the
potential for mutually beneficial energy partnership
based on complementarity of interests. They intend
to develop and expand cooperation between their
respective oil companies for encouraging, promoting
and establishing a long-term relationship in the
supply of crude oil and petroleum products, upstream
and downstream joint ventures, refineries,
petrochemical industries and marketing, both in
Kuwait and India and internationally, as permitted
by their respective laws and regulations.
In New Delhi, His
Highness the Amir addressed a luncheon meeting of
representatives of apex Indian chambers of commerce
and industry, drawn from the ASSOCHAM, CII and
FICCI. His Highness the Amir also visited Mumbai
where the accompanying business delegation met their
counterparts.
They agreed that the
two countries would work for closer cooperation in
the field of technology, in particular in the field
of information and communications technology;
agriculture; biotechnology; and non-conventional
energy technologies. Exchange of experts would take
place for developing cooperation in these areas.
The two sides agreed
that cooperation would be enhanced between them in
the education sector.
The two countries
would work towards enhancing cooperation in the
health sector, including health services, exchange
of health personnel, health education and
pharmaceuticals.
The Kuwaiti side
appreciated the role and contribution of the Indian
community for the development and progress of the
State of Kuwait. The Indian leaders expressed their
appreciation for the care and benevolence provided
by the State of Kuwait towards the Indian community.
The Kuwaiti side briefed the Indian side on the
proposed reform in labour laws which would protect
the interest of skilled and unskilled labour in
Kuwait.
The two sides
denounced terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations and reaffirmed their intention to
strengthen their cooperation in combating terrorism
at the bilateral level and within the multilateral
system of the United Nations.
India and
Kuwait welcomed the formation of the new Government
in Iraq headed by Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki,
which represents all sections of the Iraqi society
and wished the Prime Minister and his Government
success in their efforts to bring peace, prosperity
and stability to Iraq. Both sides expressed their
willingness to continue their assistance for the
reconstruction of Iraq.
Both sides
reiterated their support for the establishment of a
sovereign, independent, united and viable State of
Palestine within a reasonable timeframe through a
negotiated settlement within secure and recognized
borders as envisaged in the Quartet Roadmap and
relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. Both sides
condemned the killing of innocent civilians. India
and Kuwait emphasized the importance of
reinvigorating the Peace Process in the Middle East
in accordance with the Arab Peace Plan of 2003 and
the Quartet Roadmap and pledged to continue their
developmental and humanitarian assistance to
Palestine.
They took note
of the current situation around the Gulf and
mentioned that while Iran had the right to develop
nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, it should be
done in consonance with its international
obligations. They also underlined that the
resolution of
the current issues should be through
dialogue and consultations, giving diplomacy a
chance and that confrontation should be avoided at
all costs.
The leaders of the two countries agreed that regular
exchanges of high level visits between India and
Kuwait would help sustain the momentum of bilateral
relations. His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber
Al-Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait thanked the
President and the Prime Minister of India for their
hospitality.
His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah,
Amir of the State of Kuwait extended a formal
invitation to His Excellency Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam,
President of the Republic of India and His
Excellency Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of the
Republic of India to visit the State of Kuwait at a
mutually convenient time. The invitations were
warmly accepted.
New Delhi
June 19, 2006
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