Xi Jinping, the President of China, emphasized during his recent meeting with the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, that the Middle East and the Gulf region should not become a battlefield for great power competition. He also expressed his readiness to cooperate with Arab countries to achieve sustainable peace.
China's Diplomatic Efforts in the Middle East
China has traditionally played a low-profile role in Middle Eastern policies, but has recently increased its efforts to help end tensions and crises in the region. These developments have become particularly noticeable following the recent wars between the United States and Israel with Iran, as well as the complex situation in the Strait of Hormuz, which has led to rising energy and global transportation costs.
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During this meeting with the Sultan of Oman, Xi Jinping stated that the world is experiencing "profound and unprecedented changes" in the past century, and China will continue its commitment to stopping wars and providing rational solutions to security issues in the region.
Expansion of China-Oman Relations
Sultan Haitham welcomed China's positions on key regional issues during this meeting and emphasized the importance of development and stability as two interconnected concepts. He stated, "The growth and prosperity of nations require an environment defined by security, peace, respect for state sovereignty, and adherence to international laws."
Oman also expressed its willingness to establish a bilateral trade and investment agreement with China. Sultan Haitham expressed hope that such an agreement could open new avenues for trade and investment exchanges between the two countries.
China is now Oman's largest trading partner, and tourism and trade relations between the two countries have strengthened since the establishment of direct flights between Beijing and Muscat last November. Oman, which is engaged in exporting crude oil and energy products to China, is also seeking to develop renewable energy supply chains and digital trade.
The Sultan of Oman, who was welcomed in Beijing by Pan Gongsheng, the Governor of the People's Bank of China, also emphasized cooperation between investment and financial institutions.
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