Secretary-General of the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters, Dr. Mohammad Al-Jassar, said on Monday that "the State of Kuwait places great emphasis on strengthening cultural and civilizational ties and building shared bridges with countries around the world, particularly the European Union."

His remarks came in a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on the sidelines of the launch of the Kuwait-European Cultural Forum, organized by the European Union Mission to Kuwait in cooperation with the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters. The event was held under the patronage of Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, in celebration of Kuwait being selected as the Capital of Arab Culture and Media for 2025.

Al-Jassar added that "the bilateral relations between Kuwait and the European Union, particularly in cultural and civilizational fields, are fruitful and distinguished." He emphasized that cooperation in various cultural fields plays a significant role in strengthening relations across multiple levels.

He noted that "one of the successful areas of cooperation between the two sides is archaeological excavation in Kuwait, where several European missions have visited—and continue to visit—the country to excavate historical sites such as Failaka Island and other archaeological locations."

Al-Jassar also pointed out that Kuwait sends many of its students to EU countries to pursue education in various fields, enabling them to return home equipped with knowledge and expertise that contribute to the development of their nation and society.

He mentioned that there is ongoing architectural cooperation between Kuwait and EU countries, evident in the European designs of many distinctive buildings and landmarks across Kuwait.

EU Ambassador Highlights Kuwait’s Cultural Heritage

In a similar statement to KUNA, EU Ambassador to Kuwait Anne Koistinen said, "Kuwait’s rich cultural and civilizational heritage is a valuable treasure for the world." She highlighted the numerous European missions that have excavated sites in Kuwait in cooperation with the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters, uncovering important locations linked to Greek civilization, the Hellenistic period, and earlier historical eras.

Koistinen added that "cooperation extends to architecture, literature, art, museum exchanges, and academic collaboration in the humanities from various perspectives."

She affirmed the role of culture and civilization in bringing nations closer, considering cultural exchange between countries as one of the most important bridges of human connection and a solid foundation for building fruitful relations in other fields.

Koistinen expressed her delight in organizing the first bilateral cultural forum, describing it as evidence of the deep cultural and civilizational cooperation between the EU and Kuwait, which will celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations early next year.

She praised Kuwait’s strong commitment to supporting these relations in various fields—political, economic, and cultural—across all sectors.

Koistinen noted that Kuwait’s selection as the Capital of Arab Culture and Media for 2025 highlights its significant role in the Arab and global arenas, particularly in the cultural field.

Forum Participation and Closing

The forum, hosted by the American Cultural Center and concluding today, saw the participation of several archaeological experts and researchers in historical and civilizational studies from Kuwait and the EU. They shared their diverse experiences in cultural cooperation and explored ways to expand it toward broader horizons.