Oman and China reaffirm commitment to intensifying cooperation and developing strategic partnership - Sarmad

(KUNA) – Oman and China reaffirmed on Monday their commitment to enhancing mutual political trust, intensifying cooperation and coordination, and advancing the comprehensive and in-depth development of their strategic partnership.

The Oman News Agency reported that this was stated in a joint statement following Sultan Haitham bin Tariq’s state visit to Beijing, which came after “fruitful” talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

According to the statement, both sides expressed their readiness to strengthen mutual political trust, intensify friendly exchanges, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, enhance coordination, and promote the comprehensive and in-depth development of the Omani-Chinese strategic partnership, in line with the aspirations of both peoples and to ensure their well-being.

The two sides praised the significant progress achieved in bilateral relations since the establishment of their strategic partnership in 2018, noting fruitful cooperation in areas such as trade, energy, infrastructure, investment, finance, and advanced technology, as well as increased exchanges in fields including Chinese language education, civil aviation, and tourism.

The statement noted that the Omani side reiterated its firm commitment to the One-China principle, affirming that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China, and expressed its steadfast support for all efforts undertaken by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification.

It also expressed support for the concepts proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, including the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, the High-Quality Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, the Global Governance Initiative, and other important initiatives.

Furthermore, it voiced support for a series of initiatives and insights put forward by President Xi to promote peace and stability in the Middle East, expressing hope that China will play a greater role in achieving lasting security and stability in the region.

For its part, the statement noted that the Chinese side expressed its firm support for Oman’s efforts to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, its support for the Omani people in pursuing a modernization path suited to its circumstances, and its backing of Oman’s acceleration in implementing its economic diversification strategy.

It also expressed appreciation and support for Oman’s long-standing efforts to resolve differences, enhance mutual trust, and strengthen peace among regional countries, as well as its important and unique role in addressing hot-button issues in the Gulf and the Middle East.

According to the statement, the Omani and Chinese sides agreed to deepen strategic alignment between the High-Quality Belt and Road Initiative and Oman Vision 2040, and to continue expanding practical cooperation across various fields, emphasizing the importance of energy cooperation.

In this regard, they agreed to advance cooperation in oil and natural gas, and to expand collaboration in new energy sectors such as solar and wind power, electricity transmission and conversion, and energy storage.

They also agreed on the importance of deepening cooperation in artificial intelligence, including the application of its technologies, the required digital infrastructure, investment in AI, support for AI startups, governance of AI-related risks, and cooperation in the space sector.

In the investment field, both sides affirmed their readiness to work on encouraging and supporting companies with the capacity and willingness to invest and conduct business in the other country, and welcomed the holding of a promotional seminar on investment cooperation. They also stressed that enhancing cooperation in the financial sector holds positive significance in facilitating trade and investment between the two countries.

Regarding the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, the statement said that both sides emphasized their readiness to enhance cooperation in military, security, judicial, and other fields, and to coordinate efforts in confronting traditional and non-traditional security challenges.

With regard to the first China-Arab Summit and the first China-GCC Summit, both sides affirmed the need to make joint efforts to continue implementing their outcomes, enhance collective China-Arab and China-GCC cooperation, and advance the conclusion of a free trade agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and China as soon as possible.

The statement noted that both sides expressed their steadfast commitment to preserving the UN-centered international system and the international order based on international law and the fundamental norms of international relations grounded in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, promoting genuine multilateralism, and upholding the shared values of all humanity, namely peace, development, justice, equity, democracy, and freedom.

On regional and global developments, the statement said that both sides expressed their efforts to advocate for a multipolar world characterized by equality and regularity, and an inclusive economic globalization that benefits everyone, while urging countries around the world to move forward hand in hand toward horizons of peace, security, prosperity, and progress.

Both sides called for adhering to resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means, encouraging the United States and Iran to pursue the peaceful option, achieve a ceasefire, prevent war comprehensively, return to the (Islamabad) memorandum of understanding, and resume dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible to reach a comprehensive agreement covering the nuclear file.

According to the statement, both sides deemed it necessary to restore normal and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, agreeing to maintain communication on issues related to the strait.

Regarding the situation in Yemen, both sides called on the parties concerned with the Yemeni issue to prioritize the interests of the Yemeni people, adhere to resolving disputes through dialogue and consultation, advance the resumption of the political process for resolving the Yemeni crisis as soon as possible, and make joint efforts to restore peace and stability in Yemen, while respecting and safeguarding Yemen’s independence, unity, and territorial integrity throughout this process.

The current visit of Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman to China witnessed the signing of one agreement and 14 memoranda of understanding and cooperation protocols in fields such as currency exchange, enhancing investment cooperation in green development, media and news, exchange of information, science and technology, innovation, regulatory cooperation in securities, futures, data, and the digital economy.

The memoranda of understanding also covered areas including the peaceful uses of outer space, science and technology, space applications, artificial intelligence, applications of the BeiDou satellite navigation system, central bank digital currencies, investment in industrial and supply chains, competition protection and anti-monopoly measures, vegetation cover development, management of natural protected areas, historical documentation, and management of documents and archives.

It is worth noting that Sultan Haitham’s current visit is the first by an Omani sultan in 48 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Oman and Kuwait, reflecting a historical relationship spanning more than 1,200 years.