BEIJING - Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah will pay a state visit to China and attend the opening ceremony of the eighth ministerial meeting of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF) in Beijing from July 7 to 10, it was announced Monday.

The Kuwaiti Emir is visiting China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, said Lu Kang, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Xi will hold a welcome ceremony and banquet for the Kuwaiti Emir. The two heads of state are scheduled to hold talks, witness signing of documents, and attend the opening ceremony of the eighth ministerial meeting of CASCF on July 10, according to Lu.

Kuwait was one of the first countries in the Gulf region to establish diplomatic relations with China, Lu said, adding that the two countries' relations have undergone rapid development in recent years.

China and Kuwait understand and support each other on issues concerning mutual core interests and major concerns, Lu said.

According to the spokesperson, Kuwait was one the first countries to sign a cooperation document with China on jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative.

Besides active people-to-people exchanges, the two sides have achieved remarkable cooperation outcomes in such fields as energy, trade, investment, financing, and infrastructure, Lu said.

Al-Sabah's last state visit to China took place nine years ago, Lu recalled, expressing the Chinese side's hope that the Emir's upcoming visit will consolidate traditional China-Kuwait friendship, enhance political mutual trust, and deepen cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative so as to elevate the bilateral ties to a new height.

Saying Kuwait is an active participant of CASCF, Lu said he believes the Emir's visit is of great importance to boost China's cooperation with the Arab States as a whole.