Latest news with #SabahAl-KhaledAl-HamadAl-Sabah
Kuwait Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Crown Prince pushes forward Kuwait's strategic growth
From Riyadh to Osaka, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled amplifies Kuwait's voice KUWAIT: Kuwait celebrates Monday the first anniversary of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah's appointment as Crown Prince, continuing the nation's developmental journey and strengthening its regional and global standing. His Highness was born in 1953 and earned a degree in Political Science in 1977. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1978 and later served as Kuwait's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and the country's representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation from 1995 to 1998. In 1998, he was appointed Head of the National Security Bureau with ministerial rank. Over the years, he held several key ministerial roles, including Minister of Social Affairs (2006–2007), Minister of Information (2008–2009), and Minister of Foreign Affairs starting in 2011. In 2012, he was named Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, a position he held through 2017. On November 19, 2019, he was appointed Prime Minister and went on to form four successive governments between 2019 and 2021. His Highness' journey as Crown Prince began with the issuance of an Amiri order on June 1, 2024, in which His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah nominated him as Crown Prince. The following day, June 2, an Amiri decree was issued appointing him to the role, receiving widespread public approval. NEW YORK: Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah leads Kuwait's delegation to the 79th UN General Assembly in New York, where he also represented His Highness the Amir at the Summit of the Future. DOHA: Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled delivers a speech at the third Asian Cooperation Dialogue Summit. RIYADH: Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled meets with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. In a speech on the occasion, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled pledged to His Highness the Amir: 'I vow with resolve and determination to remain true to my oath, loyal to my duty, your steadfast supporter and sincere advisor, devoted to serving my country, safeguarding its interests, ensuring its security and stability, upholding its values, authenticity, and unity, striving for its advancement, and committed to the principles of our Islamic faith and our national values.' On the same day, the Cabinet held a special session chaired by His Highness the PM Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, during which council ministers pledged allegiance to His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled as Crown Prince. His Highness then took the constitutional oath before the Cabinet. Throughout the past year, His Highness closely followed up on development plans, attended national events, inaugurated new facilities, welcomed Arab and international officials, honored distinguished national figures, and conducted regional and international tours. KUWAIT: Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah takes his constitutional oath before His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The Crown Prince attends a special cabinet session, during which council ministers pledged allegiance to His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled. DOHA: Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled meets Deputy Amir of Qatar Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani. Key highlights of the year: June 11, 2024: Visited Saudi Arabia and held talks with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman on bilateral relations and regional developments. September 19, 2024: Led Kuwait's delegation to the 79th UN General Assembly in New York, where he also represented the Amir at the Summit of the Future. October 2, 2024: Headed Kuwait's delegation to the third Asian Cooperation Dialogue Summit in Doha, highlighting the role of sports diplomacy and calling for collective action on major regional challenges including Palestine and Lebanon. November 4, 2024: Represented the Amir at the high-level conference 'Strengthening International Cooperation in Counter-Terrorism and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process.' November 11–12, 2024: Led Kuwait's delegation at the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh and then traveled to Azerbaijan to head the delegation at the COP29 Global Climate Summit. March 4, 2025: Headed Kuwait's delegation to the extraordinary Arab Summit in Cairo. May 25, 2025: Chaired Kuwait's delegation at the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur. May 28–31, 2025: Visited Japan, where he held high-level meetings culminating in an agreement to elevate bilateral relations to a strategic partnership and signed several agreements. He also visited Expo 2025 in Osaka, exploring the pavilions of Kuwait, Japan and the GCC. Arab and international relations His Highness' career has seen pivotal moments in shaping Kuwait's diplomacy over the past two decades and addressing major national and international challenges. He has consistently supported GCC unity and cooperation across all sectors. In Arab forums, His Highness emphasized Kuwait's commitment to Arab integration and solidarity, particularly supporting the Palestinian cause and advocating for international resolutions regarding it. He has maintained Kuwait's firm foreign policy based on mutual respect, non-interference, international legitimacy, and peaceful conflict resolution in accordance with the UN Charter. — KUNA
Kuwait Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait's ‘Visionary Lighthouse' draws crowds at Expo 2025
OSAKA: Kuwait's pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan — dubbed the Visionary Lighthouse — has been attracting long daily queues since opening, thanks to its captivating blend of heritage and innovation. The pavilion showcases Kuwait as a country where tradition and progress coexist, using culture as a bridge for dialogue and understanding. Visitors journey through Kuwait's past, present, and future across two levels. The first floor explores the nation's rich heritage and traditions, while the second presents its aspirations through cutting-edge technology. Four exhibition halls use immersive features and AI to bring these stories to life. At the heart of the pavilion lies The Pearl, a symbolic space honoring Kuwait's historic pearl-diving legacy. A video circulating on social media, showing visitors interacting with Kuwaiti desert sand inside the pavilion, has helped drive interest. 'We saw the clip and came to try it ourselves — it looked fun,' said two young women waiting in line. A visiting family described the experience as magical: 'The planetarium felt like lying under the stars in the desert... We hope to return.' OSAKA: Visitors enjoy the different attractions at Kuwait's pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan. — KUNA photos On Friday, a Kuwaiti folklore troupe energized the stage in celebration of the visit by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. A group of five women told KUNA they loved the performance. 'Kuwaiti music is so rhythmic and beautiful,' one said. 'We didn't know much about Kuwait, but the music created a sense of connection,' added another. Minister of Information and Culture Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi said the pavilion offers a rich, multidimensional experience. 'It reflects Kuwait's future ambitions while honoring its authentic identity — a blend of cultural openness and deeply rooted values,' he told KUNA. Expo 2025 Osaka runs from April 13 to October 13 on Yumeshima Island under the theme Designing Future Society for Our Lives, with sub-themes including Saving Lives, Empowering Lives, and Connecting Lives. The expo focuses on innovation, sustainability, and cultural exchange, with around 160 countries and nine international organizations participating. More than 28 million visitors are expected. Kuwait's participation continues a historic legacy — it was one of just four Arab nations represented at Expo Osaka 1970, the first world expo held in Japan, which drew over 64 million visitors. — KUNA
Kuwait Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Crown Prince hails Japan visit
Crown Prince hails Japan visit Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled thanks leadership, visits Osaka Expo 2025 TOKYO/KUWAIT: HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah departed on Saturday from Osaka and arrived in Kuwait following an official visit to Japan. HH the Crown Prince sent a thank-you message to Japanese Emperor Naruhito, expressing his gratitude for the warm reception during his official visit to Japan and thanking him on behalf of himself and his delegation. He highlighted that this warm welcome reflects the strong historic ties between the two countries, nurtured by HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. HH the Crown Prince also appreciated the positive Kuwaiti-Japanese discussions on mutual interests and emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation to elevate bilateral relations, benefiting both nations and addressing global challenges. HH the Crown Prince also sent messages of thanks to Japanese Crown Prince Fumihito and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. On Friday, HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled visited the Osaka Expo 2025. He and his entourage were accompanied by Kuwait's Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya and organizers of the Kuwait pavilion at the world expo. HH the Crown Prince started his tour of the expo with a visit to the pavilion of the hosts, where the Japanese officials briefed him on the exhibits that reflect their history, culture and civilization. He then proceeded to the pavilions of Gulf Cooperation Council members, namely Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait. At the Kuwait pavilion, the organizers offered him a presentation of the dazzling displays which reflect Kuwait's heritage and cultural identity, as well as the national achievements in the areas of economy, energy, environment and education. HH the Crown Prince praised the neat organization of the pavilion, saying it offered a bright picture that mirrors Kuwait's eminent status on regional and international levels. HH the Crown Prince later attended a dinner banquet hosted in his honor by Al-Mutairi at the Kuwait pavilion. – KUNA
Kuwait Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
GCC open to green energy collaboration with ASEAN: Crown Prince
KUALA LUMPUR: Energy security and environmental sustainability are among the GCC's foremost priorities of international cooperation, said His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on Tuesday. Speaking at the second GCC–ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled praised the progress ASEAN nations have made in the field of green energy. He expressed the GCC's readiness to support climate goals through clean energy cooperation and proposed strategic partnerships in food security and digital infrastructure to strengthen resilience and innovation. The Crown Prince also proposed designating 2026 as a "GCC–ASEAN Cultural Convergence Year," featuring cultural weeks, forums, and exhibitions, alongside national cultural days in both regions. He also called for initiatives to empower youth and women through training, skill development, and entrepreneurship programs. A key moment The summit was held under the joint chairmanship of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, representing His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and current President of the GCC Supreme Council; Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, current Chair of ASEAN; and leaders of ASEAN member states. His Highness noted that both blocs possess vast geographical, demographic, and strategic assets that qualify them to play an influential global role, especially amid accelerating economic changes, security challenges, climate risks, and technological revolutions that demand new patterns of cooperation. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled described the summit as a key moment in strengthening ties between the GCC and ASEAN, and as a reaffirmation of their collective commitment to building a strategic partnership rooted in mutual interests, international law, and inclusive sustainable development. He recalled the first summit held in Riyadh in October 2023, calling it a successful launchpad that helped shape the current strategic cooperation framework (2024–2028). He said this serves as a roadmap for institutionalizing the partnership and translating it into practical tools for progress. His Highness highlighted the combined economic and demographic power of the two blocs, with a total GDP nearing $6 trillion and a population of around 740 million. "The importance of this partnership lies in the fact that both sides together represent a tremendous economic and human force," he said. "We are connected by some of the world's most vital maritime and trade routes, giving our cooperation a geopolitical and strategic dimension that directly impacts regional stability and global economic growth." Economic achievements He welcomed the economic achievements since the first summit, particularly in trade and investment, and called for keeping pace with developments in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. He noted that the GCC became ASEAN's seventh-largest trading partner in 2023, with total trade reaching $130.7 billion. He projected a 30 percent increase to $180 billion by 2032. Bilateral trade in goods surpassed $122 billion in 2023, with rising Gulf investments in Asia reflecting growing trust and economic complementarity. He urged continued efforts to enhance cooperation in economic, investment, trade, and technical sectors, including positive progress in free trade negotiations and policies to support investment and regional supply chains. Security cooperation His Highness reiterated the GCC's commitment to constructive dialogue, mutual understanding, respect for sovereignty, and non-interference in internal affairs. He called for enhanced cooperation to combat terrorism, extremism, organized crime, and for stronger crisis response mechanisms. His Highness emphasized energy security and environmental sustainability as top priorities and praised ASEAN's progress in renewable energy. He expressed GCC readiness to exchange expertise in clean energy, green hydrogen, and low-carbon technologies to support the Paris Climate Agreement goals. In light of global crises and the COVID-19 pandemic, he proposed strategic partnerships in agriculture, food innovation, and supply chain resilience. He called for cooperation in building an inclusive digital economy and infrastructure, including sharing best practices in e-commerce and digital transformation. Palestine, regional issues His Highness expressed deep concern over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. He reaffirmed the GCC's firm support for the Palestinian people's right to establish an independent state along the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. He called on the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities to halt aggression, protect civilians, and revive a credible peace process based on international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative. He also welcomed ASEAN's supportive stance toward Palestinian rights. On Syria, His Highness welcomed recent positive developments and reaffirmed the GCC's support for preserving Syria's sovereignty and enabling stability and reconstruction for the Syrian people. Expo 2030 His Highness emphasized that the success of the summit would not be measured by declarations alone, but by the translation of goals into tangible results. He proposed establishing a high-level follow-up mechanism supervised by both blocs' Secretariats to regularly report on progress. He concluded by inviting ASEAN countries to participate in Expo 2030 in Riyadh, describing it as a global platform for showcasing sustainable partnerships, future technologies, and economic and cultural openness. His Highness expressed appreciation to Malaysia once again and wished the summit great success in achieving its noble objectives, and for continued prosperity in GCC–ASEAN relations. — KUNA
Kuwait Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Deeper ASEAN, GCC, China ties eyed
Deeper ASEAN, GCC, China ties eyed Crown Prince addresses two key summits, highlights collaboration, global issues KUALA LUMPUR: Representing HH the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah delivered keynote addresses during the ASEAN-GCC Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit held in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, underscoring Kuwait's commitment to multilateral collaboration amid mounting global challenges. At the second ASEAN-GCC Summit, HH the Crown Prince stressed the strategic importance of deepening cooperation between the two regional blocs. Kuwait serves as the current chair of the GCC. He highlighted the success of the 2023 Riyadh summit and reaffirmed commitment to the 2024–2028 Strategic Cooperation Framework, which lays out actionable goals in energy, digital transformation, food security and cultural exchange. He proposed naming 2026 the 'Year of Cultural Convergence' and called for enhanced collaboration in youth empowerment, women's entrepreneurship and infrastructure development. At the first-ever ASEAN-GCC-China Trilateral Summit, co-chaired by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, HH the Crown Prince described the gathering as a 'gateway to a new dynamic phase' of trilateral partnership. He highlighted growing trade volumes — GCC-China trade reached $298 billion in 2023, while GCC-ASEAN trade hit $122 billion — and called for the finalization of free trade agreements with China and ASEAN. He outlined five pillars for trilateral cooperation, including innovation, digital economy and sustainable development, and emphasized the importance of joint frameworks like the China-GCC Joint Action Plan (2023–2027). In both speeches, HH the Crown Prince addressed ongoing regional crises, reiterating unwavering GCC support for the Palestinian cause and expressing concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. He also welcomed positive developments in Syria and stressed the importance of restoring sovereignty and stability. Concluding both addresses, HH the Crown Prince called for concrete mechanisms to implement summit outcomes and extended an invitation to ASEAN countries to participate in Expo 2030 Riyadh as a platform for global cooperation and exchange. During his visit, HH Sheikh Sabah also attended a luncheon hosted by Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar for participating delegations. — KUNA
