Joint Kuwaiti-Saudi statement praises “strength” of bilateral relations

A joint statement released after fresh talks involving a coordination committee linking Kuwait and Saudi Arabia heaped praise on the "strength" of bilateral ties, citing more room for progress across numerous fields. The respective political leaders of the Gulf Arab neighbors share a common desire to propel these ties to even greater levels, the statement underlined, saying the two nations routinely draw up fresh plans and strategies to help usher in growth in relations, as "per the instructions" of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz. The aforementioned committee, which is comprised of smaller groups focusing on matters that run the gamut from politics and security to the economy, was created with the express purpose of bringing that goal to fruition, added the statement after talks presided over by Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya and his Saudi opposite number Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud. These goals include more cooperation on counter-terrorism efforts and measures aiming to clamp down on extremism, while recent round of talks yielded substantial progress on plans to establish a rail link between the Gulf Arab states, a marquee endeavor that is expected to see the light of day in the near future, it said. Kuwait and Riyadh also have other similar plans in the works, including forging a "shared vision" on issues ranging from culture and the media to tourism and social development, in addition to greater healthcare and educational cooperation, according to the statement. The statement went on to give due credit to the Kuwaiti-Saudi joint coordination committee for its contributions towards keeping relations on an upward trajectory, revealing that the next round of talks are slated for next year in the Saudi capital. Source: Kuwait News Agency