Lu Yongxiang, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), visited the Kuwaiti embassy in Beijing on Wednesday to mourn the demise of Kuwait's late Emir, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on behalf of the Chinese government.

 

Lu expressed deep condolence over the death of Sheikh Jaber, and spoke highly of the contribution Sheikh Jaber had made in his life to promoting China-Kuwait ties.

 

"China is willing to make joint efforts with Kuwait to further promote friendly cooperation between the two countries," Lu said.

 

On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, as special envoy of the Chinese government, arrived in Kuwait City to mourn the passing of Sheikh Jaber.

 

Sheikh Jaber passed away on Sunday morning at the age of 78 after long-term illness. The Kuwaiti cabinet has appointed Crown Prince Sheikh Saad new emir of the kingdom.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2006)