In a written statement upon his arrival, Wu said he was pleased to pay his first visit to the state of Kuwait, a beautiful and richly endowed country, at the invitation of Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

He said that Kuwait is an important Gulf country, which has played a positive role in regional affairs.

Wu said that Kuwait was the first Gulf country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, adding that with the joint efforts of both sides, friendly and cooperative ties between Kuwait and China in the political, economic and cultural fields have been growing during the past three decades.

The Chinese vice premier was looking forward to exchanging views over means of deepening bilateral ties, and regional and international issues of mutual concern, with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Sheikh Sabah and other senior Kuwaiti officials.

He voiced belief that his visit will further boost mutual understanding and friendship between Kuwait and China and lift the existing friendly and cooperative relations to a new level in the new millenium.

Kuwait is the last leg of Wu's three-nation tour, which has taken him to Sudan and Egypt.

(Xinhua 11/21/2000)