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Visiting British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Wednesday held talks at Bayan Palace in Kuwait City with Kuwaiti foreign minister Sheikh Mohammad Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah on regional affairs and issues of joint interest.
Blair, who is heading a high-ranking delegation, arrived here earlier in the day. It is his first visit to the Gulf region since the US-led war broke out on March 20.
The meeting, attended by senior officials from both sides, included talks on developments in the Middle East, means to bolster bilateral ties between the two countries as well as other issues of common concern, the official KUNA news agency reported.
Kuwait was a launch pad for the US-led war on Iraq to topple former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Officials at Blair's Downing Street office said Monday that Blair intended to convey London's gratitude personally to Kuwaiti leaders for their support during the Iraq war.
Meanwhile, senior Kuwaiti officials have welcomed Blair's visit, saying that Kuwaitis always remember with appreciation the United Kingdom's constant support for Kuwait's just causes, particularly its role in deterring the aggression of the former Iraqi regime on Kuwait in 1990.
Blair will enter Iraq on Thursday to visit British troops stationed there. He will then go on to Poland, Russia and finally Evian in France at the weekend for the annual summit of the G8 group of nations.
(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2003)
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