Hong Kong Secretary for Economic Development and Labor Stephen Ip signed Wednesday an Air Services Agreement on behalf of the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) with the government of the State of Kuwait in Kuwait.

According to a government press release Wednesday, representing the government of the State of Kuwait at the signing ceremony was Al-Sabah, minister of telecommunications, minister of planning and state minister for administrative development.

"The Air Services Agreement signed today provides a legal framework for the establishment of air links between Hong Kong and Kuwait. It marks a new chapter in the development of aviation relations between the two economies," Ip said at the signing ceremony.

"To further develop Hong Kong's position as the preferred transportation and logistics hub, we will continue to negotiate and conclude more air services agreements with new aviation partners," Ip added.

During his stay in Kuwait, Ip met with Kuwait Prime Minister Al-Sabah. Both Prime Minister Al-Sabah and Ip looked forward to closer ties between Kuwait and Hong Kong in areas like trade, air services and tourism.

The Air Services Agreement with Kuwait is Hong Kong's 51st air services agreement with foreign aviation partners. 

(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2004)