A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson announced on October 30 that Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman will pay a state visit to China from November 1 to 2 at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. Omani reports say the trip also includes a visit to Brunei.
CGTN reported the announcement by the foreign ministry spokesperson on October 30. The report did not name the spokesperson or give the agenda, the topics of talks or any expected agreements, and we could not confirm those points either.
광고 문의 · 300×250Times of Oman reported that the Sultan begins state visits to China and Brunei on Sunday, November 1. Oman said the aim is to strengthen friendship and cooperation and widen ties across fields. The delegation includes Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs Sayyid Shihab, Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr, the head of the Oman Investment Authority, and the ministers of transport and communications and of commerce and industry.
Background of ties
Times of Oman quoted Omani Ambassador Anwar bin Ahmed Muqabil as saying the two countries established relations on May 25, 1978, raised them to a strategic partnership in 2018 and signed a Belt and Road memorandum. He said bilateral trade topped 25 billion dollars last year and that China is the largest market for Omani exports. The paper described the trip as the first state visit to China by an Omani Sultan.
Examples of cooperation include Block 5 with CNPC, a State Grid power transmission project and a Huaxin cement plant. The joint committee's 10th session in Beijing on December 29 discussed Chinese investment in Omani industry, a renewable energy supply-chain complex and smart warehouses at Duqm, Sohar and Salalah. Both sides list energy, renewables, green hydrogen, the digital economy, AI, ports, logistics and manufacturing as priorities, and the ambassador said the aim is to double mutual investment. These are Omani accounts; the Chinese side's detailed position was not confirmed in the announcement.