Doha, February 24 (QNA) - The State of Kuwait prepares to mark the 63rd anniversary of its National Day Sunday which embodies the deepest meanings of loyalty to homeland, patriotism, and the determination of its wise leadership to promote the nation's standing, safeguard its security and stability and lend the impetus to development in a variety of fields.
To commemorate this cherished anniversary that coincides with the 33rd anniversary of Liberation, the Kuwaiti towns and facilities have been adored with the most beautiful decoration and flamboyant symbols. The people of the State of Kuwait proudly commemorate their belonging to this nation which boasts of its glorified past to remain at the vanguard of nations that aspire to build bright present and future.
The people of the State of Qatar share with their Kuwaiti brothers their joys and celebrations of the 33rd anniversary of Liberation epitomizing the bonds of real fraternity, love, and appreciation, stemming from the deep-rooted relations between the two sisterly countries at all levels. The two nations have special relationships with points of commonality based on unity of destiny and purpose, and common pursuit of integration and interconnection in all vital fields that fulfill the hopes of their peoples.
The Qatari-Kuwaiti relationships are deep-rooted at the Gulf, Arab and international levels and keep evolving day after day by virtue of the care and interest of the two wise leaderships in the two sisterly countries.
To underscore the strength of relations between the two sisterly countries, HH Amir of the sisterly State of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah visited the State of Qatar last week for the first time since he assumed his duties as Amir of the State of Kuwait last December. The visit aimed to bolster the fraternal ties, coordination, cooperation, and forge the Qatari-Kuwaiti strategic partnership based on robust underpinnings of love, fraternity, and joint aspirations, in addition to strengthening the dynamism that characterizes the relationships between the two countries.
Within the framework of the visit, HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and his brother HH Amir of the sisterly State of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah held an official talks session at the Amiri Diwan during which they discussed bilateral relations between the two sisterly countries and avenues to invigorate them. They also shared perspectives on the prospects of reinforcing the joint Gulf action to strengthen the security and stability of the region, as well as regional and global issues.
HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani presented the Sword of the Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani in appreciation for the high status of HH the Amir of Kuwait to document the deepened fraternity and relations between the two brotherly peoples. The sword is the highest national decoration carried by the Amir of the State and is presented to kings, Amirs and heads of state.
HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani also met with HH Amir of the sisterly State of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at Al Wajba Palace on his visit to the State of Qatar.
At the conclusion of the visit, a joint statement was issued that highlighting the relations between the two countries and their development and progress during the past years, along with the two nations' positions on an array of current issues and files of common concern.
In confirmation of the depth and distinguished relationships between the State of Qatar and the State of Kuwait and upon the directives of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the corridor road project was named after HH Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, which represents a vital and new corridor in Qatar, to underscore the State of Qatar's appreciation and love for a great Arab leader who was distinguished by his honorable stances towards his homeland, his Arab brothers, and his Islamic nation throughout the world, until he won the title of prince of humanity.
The inauguration of this corridor had deep meanings of the status of this great leader in the heart of HH the Amir, the government and people of the State of Qatar which concurrently came to mark the State of Qatar's participation with brothers in Kuwait in the celebrations of the 58th anniversary of the National Day and the 28th anniversary of the Liberation.
The volume of trade exchange between Qatar and Kuwait is constantly growing. The navigation line that was inaugurated between Hamad Port and the Kuwaiti Shuwaikh Port in 2017 had a pivotal role in doubling the volume of trade exchange offering a perfect service in the regular transportation of merchandise, especially food items and others from and to Qatar. The volume of trade exchange between the two sisterly countries reached up to USD1.94 billion by October 2023.
The long-term agreement signed between the two nations -on importing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) for 15 years starting from 2022 until 2036 -reinforces the trade relations between the two sisterly countries.
The number of Kuwaiti firms operating in the Qatari market with 100 percent ownership exceeds 170, while the number of joint Qatari-Kuwaiti firms exceeds 656. The distinguished air traffic between the two nations is a testament to the evolved relations between the two sisterly countries.
Kuwait is celebrating these days under the wise leadership of HH Amir of the sisterly State of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah with the Kuwaiti people rallying around him to push the nation towards security, stability, and prosperity.
The State of Kuwait marked the first National Day on Jun. 19, 1962, with a major military parade at the Old Airport attended by a large number of officials and citizens in buoyant atmospheres full of euphoria and happiness, during which late Amir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah addressed the nation and stated that the State of Kuwait marks the first anniversary of the National Day with hearts full of joy, euphoria and progression for the welfare and dignity of the people of Kuwait.
The celebrations of the national days featured many phases full of elegance and passed through epitomized memories engraved in the conscience starting from the sixties of the last century. In the seventies and eighties, national day celebrations were being held with the participation of various public and private state institutions, in addition to school students and popular bands and governorates of Kuwait.
Since 1962, the State of Kuwait has embarked on undergirding its political system by establishing an institutional council whose mission is to set a permanent constitutions for a ruling system based on democratic principles that conform to the reality of Kuwait and its objectives.
One of prominent milestones of the institutional council was the draft constitution ratified by the late Amir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah in November 1962. Since then, Kuwait entered the phase of the constitutional legitimacy by holding first legislative elections on Jan.23, 1963. The nation has made numerous achievements through the comprehensive renaissance since its independence and until this day and kept pursuing the renaissance path charted by ancestors and followed by the determination of the Kuwaiti people who rallied around their wise leadership.
Since its independence, the State of Kuwait has been seeking to pursue a moderate and balanced foreign policy by embracing openness and belief in friendship and peace constituting a core principle and economic welfare for its people as a goal within the framework of cooperation with regional and international organizations, in addition to backing its efforts and aspirations towards security and stability of the world.
Kuwait has succeeded in forging robust relationships with the sisterly and friendly countries by virtue of its pioneering policy and stellar role in reinforcing the mission of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and backing the efforts of the international community towards achieving international peace and security. The nation upheld the international legitimacy, regional and global cooperation through the United Nations, as well as Arab and regional organizations.
Over the past sixty-three years, Kuwait has made outstanding accomplishments at all levels based on plans and visions of its wise leaderships and governments which acknowledged that the nation and its people require development. The country performed a pivotal role in regional and global files and maintained generosity in humanitarian aid that strikingly garnered world attention.
To mark this national day, Kuwait is engaged in many activities, national, historical, and patrimonial events that pay tribute to the past, present and future of the nation. Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre holds a celebration program that will continue until Monday. (QNA)