On January 17, 2014, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing with First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah of Kuwait, who came to China to attend the China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Strategic Dialogue.

　　Wang Yi said, Kuwait was the first of Gulf Arabian countries that established diplomatic relationship with China. China attaches great importance to China-Kuwait relationship and is willing to work together with Kuwait to unceasingly deepen bilateral practical cooperation in all fields. Kuwait now holds the rotating presidency of the GCC, and will soon hold the rotating presidency of the Arab League. China is willing to join the efforts with Kuwait to promote the cooperation between China and the GCC and between China and the Arab world, and to push to restart China-GCC free trade area (FTA) negotiations as soon as possible and to reach the agreement.

　　Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said that Kuwait-China relations have maintained sound development momentum in recent years, with bilateral cooperation in various fields has yielded positive results. Kuwait firmly supports the GCC and the Arab League to develop relations with China and is willing to play a positive role in promoting the GCC-China and Arab-China relations. China-GCC FTA negotiations are in line with mutual interests of both parties, and Kuwait is willing to exert its influence to push for the restart of the negotiations as soon as possible.

　　The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.