Beijing - Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah arrived in Beijing on Sunday afternoon, kicking off a four-day official visit, state media reported. The emir is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao to discuss bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
The governments of Kuwait and China signed a framework agreement for cooperation in the fields of oil and gas in July 2004, and discussions are likely to centre on expanding the existing relationship.
"Departments and enterprises of both countries are also making efforts to further energy cooperation", Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said.
China's top oil refiner Sinopec signed a 350-million-dollar contract last month with the state-owned Kuwait Oil Company to build five oil and gas rigs in Kuwait, Xinhua reported.
Kuwait is currently the eight-largest supplier of oil to China, but exports are expected to increase this year in line with a target of 500,000 barrels per day by 2015.
However, there are still ongoing concerns over a delayed 9 billion dollar Kuwait-Chinese refinery and petrochemical project due to be built in Guangzhou.
The planned site has been criticized by environmentalists, and the Chinese government is now considering a new location.
The visit was Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah's fifth to China since 1977, and his first visit since taking office.
