By Sherouq Sadeqi (with photos)

ZARAGOZA, July 30 (KUNA) -- Several Spanish officials paid a visit to the Kuwaiti pavilion at the Expo 2008 on the occasion of the celebration of "Kuwait Day," attended by the Gulf state's Information Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah.

Expo Zaragoza 2008 Commissioner General Emilio Fernandez-Castano y Diaz Caneja, while at the Kuwaiti pavilion, told KUNA that he believed that the pavilion succeeded in reflecting the "strategic importance of water" in the new century.

He added that Kuwait was also able to embody the true spirit of the exhibition, which was "having fun and learning information of high quality at the same time."

"I am not surprised that this pavilion is one of the most favored by the public attending the Expo 2008," he said.

Moreover, the Spanish official said he enjoyed the 4D display in the shape of a water drop, which "takes you into Kuwait without getting out of the Expo, so I have to say congratulations (to Kuwait)."

Also speaking to KUNA, Gustavo de Aristegui, the foreign affairs spokesman for the conservative Popular Party, said that he was "very impressed by the Kuwaiti pavilion, but of course it was something that I expected."

He said that he was a very good friend of Kuwait, adding "I admire Kuwait's people and its leaders who have done a wonderful job in creating a modern and advanced nation ... and recently made social political advancement with granting women their political rights."

He expressed belief that Kuwait was showing the world in this pavilion "what a small but powerful nation can do with little natural resources, but with the strength and will of a wise leadership."

"For a Gulf country there is nothing more precious than water which is one of reasons why the GCC states are participating in this Expo, along with the Arab countries," he stressed.

Water is of "paramount importance to everyone, and if there are nations that know the precious value of water, it is Kuwait and the rest of the Gulf countries," he said.

He found especially important the explanation of the technical means that Kuwait applied to desalinize, produce and recycle water with the use of the most modern procedures.

On his part, deputy chairman of the organizing committee and the undersecretary of the administrative and financial affairs at the Kuwaiti Information Ministry Ibrahim Al-Nouh told KUNA, "We have achieved unexpected success and have come to compete against two leading countries: Germany and Japan. The success is reflected in the huge turnout that the Kuwaiti pavilion is witnessing everyday since the Expo's inauguration."

He added that for the Kuwaiti pavilion to be among the top three at the Expo out of 105 was "a great honor for us Kuwaitis and for all those who contributed toward making this pavilion a success."

He said the praise the pavilion received from the Kuwaiti information minister, who attended the Kuwait Day yesterday, "reassured us that our efforts proved to be a success ... Kuwait Day was considered our biggest step and challenge."

Al-Nouh said the presence of the information minister at the Kuwait Day was a "big support."

Kuwait Day, held yesterday on the sidelines of the Expo 2008, was a day dedicated to activities organized by the Gulf state and depicting its culture and heritage, as well as showcasing its water experience in line with the theme of the exhibition.

Meanwhile, director of the financial affairs at the Kuwaiti Information Ministry Nayef Al-Quweihan told KUNA that out of the many exhibitions he participated in, this was by far the most successful for Kuwait in terms of display and turnout.

He attributed the success achieved of the Kuwaiti pavilion at the Expo 2008 to the support of the information minister and his undersecretary, as well as the organizing committee.

Copyright Kuwait News Agency 2008.