Kuwaiti Emir Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah accepted the resignation of his scandal-ridden Prime Minister Sheik Nasser Al Mohammad Al Sabah and cabinet before delegating them to a caretaker role “pending formation of a new government” . . . opposition groups said this response was not enough and called for the parliament to be dissolved as well . . . this was the seventh cabinet since Sheik Nasser was named prime minister in 2006 . . . two Chinese warships were in Kuwait as they began a five-day official visit on Sunday . . . construction began on a $9.3 billion joint venture between China Petroleum & Chemical Corp (Sinopec) and Kuwait Petroleum Corp on November 18 . . . the refinery complex in Zhanjiang, China is scheduled to begin operations in 2015 and would have the capacity to refine 300,000 barrels per day . . . bilateral Sino-Kuwaiti trade amounted to $8.54 billion . . . Kuwaiti oil exports to China amounted to 6.1 percent of China's total crude imports . . . the decision to keep the cabinet as caretakers is a rebuff to opposition groups who dislike the Prime Minister . . . this could increase tensions which have risen since a mob of protestors stormed the parliament building last month . . . despite a stalled economy, the ruling family remains popular thanks to generous subsidies and an expansive welfare system . . . Kuwait sees Beijing as crucial to its plans to become a regional trade and financial hub as it tries to compete with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.