President Xi Jinping held talks on November 2 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with Sultan Haitham of Oman, who is on a state visit. It is the first visit to China by an Omani head of state in the 48 years since ties were established in 1978.
According to Xinhua and Huanqiu, the sultan arrived in Beijing on November 1 for a two-day state visit. A welcome ceremony was held in the North Hall of the Great Hall on the morning of November 2, with an honor guard review and a 21-gun salute, followed by a banquet at noon in the Golden Hall. Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended.
광고 문의 · 300×250Xi’s remarks: sovereignty and the Gulf
Xi described China-Oman friendship as long-standing and well founded, and said China supports Oman in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and stability and in choosing a development path suited to its conditions. He proposed wider cooperation in energy, investment, industry, artificial intelligence and technology, plus exchanges in education, tourism, health, media and sports.
On regional issues he said the Gulf should not become an arena for great-power rivalry or geopolitical conflict. Disputes should be settled by political and diplomatic means, and China will coordinate with Arab and Gulf Cooperation Council states to contribute to regional peace.
Sultan Haitham said Oman firmly upholds the one-China principle and supports China on sovereignty and territorial integrity. He noted that China has long been Oman’s largest trading partner and that Chinese investment is growing, and said Oman wants to align development strategies and expand cooperation in trade, investment, industry, infrastructure and AI. He also praised China’s fair position on Middle East issues.
The leaders witnessed the signing of several cooperation documents covering supply chains and industrial chains, green development and digital finance, and a joint statement on deepening the strategic partnership was issued. Details of the documents were not found in confirmed reports. Omani media said the visit opens the way for cooperation in politics, economy, investment, culture and technology, while Ding Long of Shanghai International Studies University read it as neutral mediator Oman widening its diplomatic autonomy amid Hormuz shipping disruption and US pressure.