Kuwait- Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah met with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at Bayan Palace on Sunday.

The two sides discussed the Palestinian Cause and bilateral relations and means of enhancing and developing them in all fields.

Kuwaiti News Agency (KUNA) quoted Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah al-Sabah saying: “The two parties discussed means of expanding cooperation frameworks to serve their common interests and support their unity and the joint Arab action and the latest developments on the regional and international arenas.”

Jarrah added that the friendly atmosphere during the talks reflected mutual amity, brotherliness and common willingness to cement bilateral cooperation and coordination in all domains.

The talks were attended by Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah in addition to the Palestinian Leader’s accompanying delegation.

Emir of Kuwait later held a luncheon banquet in honor of Abbas at Bayan Palace.

The banquet was attended by the Palestinian leader’s accompanying delegation and Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St Mark, who also arrived in Kuwait on an official visit on Sunday.

On the other hand, Pope Tawadros II started his first-time visit to Kuwait on Sunday following an invitation from Emir Sheikh Sabah.

During the four-day visit, the Coptic cleric will inaugurate a new cathedral.

The Pope will also hold spiritual meetings and attend a celebratory dinner alongside the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Kuwait, Bishop Bishoy, on Tuesday.

Tawadros is scheduled to meet the Emir to thank him for his support for the Coptic Orthodox Church, and will also meet with Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmed al-Sabah as well as Prime Minister Jaber al-Mubarak and a number of other officials.