New Delhi: India on Saturday had a detailed discussion with Kuwait on a range of regional issues, from West Asian political turmoil to the new political and administrative situation in Afghanistan to the geo-politics of the Indo-Pacific region.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called on Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Ahmed Nasser Mohammed Al-Sabah on Saturday, and discussed bilateral issues, besides planning the agenda for next India- Kuwait Joint Commission meeting.
‘Nice to talk to FM @anmas71 of Kuwait. Reviewed the progress in our bilateral relationship. Agreed at an early meeting of our Joint Commission. Also talked about regional situations ranging from West Asia and the Gulf to Afghanistan and the Indo-Pacific,” Jaishankar tweeted after the talks.
Following the visit of the Amir of Kuwait to India in 2006, both sides agreed to set up an “India-Kuwait Joint Ministerial Commission on Economic and Technical Cooperation”.
Kuwait and India are members of the Non-aligned Movement (NAM). Both countries share identical views on various regional and international matters, and have been cooperating with each other in international fora. High-level discussions and consultations between the two friendly countries is a regular feature of bilateral relations.
Kuwait and India have enjoyed cordial relations since the beginning. Geographical proximity, historical trade links, cultural affinities have all continued to nurture the longstanding relationship over the decades.
Until 1961, the Indian Rupee was a legal tender in Kuwait.
There are approximately 900,000 Indians in Kuwait, who constitute the largest expatriate community in the country, according to the Kuwaiti Interior Ministry.
The total remittance from Kuwait to India is estimated to be upwards of $3.5 billion annually. Indians are regarded as the community of first preference among the expatriates in Kuwait.
(IANS)
