President Xi Jinping said on Monday that China stands ready to work with Oman to steer their strategic partnership to a higher level, and to help restore peace and realize lasting stability in the Middle East at an early date.
Xi made the remarks during talks with Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik Al Said of Oman, who is on a state visit to China — the first by Oman’s head of state since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 48 years ago.
The talks constituted an important chapter in the history of China-Oman relations and will inject strong impetus into the development of bilateral ties, Xi said.
He said China and Oman should enhance political mutual trust and strengthen exchanges of experience in national governance, while expressing China’s support for Oman in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty, security and stability, and in independently exploring a development path suited to its national conditions.
The two sides should expand practical cooperation and continuously cement the foundation of mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, he said, adding that China is committed to promoting high-quality development and expanding high-standard opening up, which will bring greater opportunities to Oman and other countries.
China is ready to deepen the synergy of development strategies with Oman and be a stable and reliable partner in the energy sector, a partner with promising potential in investment, and a partner in fostering innovation within advanced technologies, he said.
China aims to make bilateral energy cooperation more multi-dimensional and comprehensive, strengthen exchanges in industry, investment, artificial intelligence (AI), science and technology, and people-to-people ties, and join hands on the paths toward development, revitalization, and modernization, Xi said. He also called for efforts to intensify cooperation in such fields as education, tourism, health, media and sports, to continuously substantiate the China-Oman strategic partnership. Xi noted that the Middle East and the Gulf region should not become an arena for major power rivalry or geopolitical conflicts, and that concerted efforts are needed to foster and maintain peace and stability in the region. “China has been actively committed to ending hostilities and promoting peace, aiming to contribute its wisdom and solutions to resolving the regional security predicament,” Xi said.
China will continue to advocate resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means, and support regional countries in building a common home of good-neighborliness, development, security and cooperation, he added.
China is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with Oman and other Arab states and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to jointly work for the early restoration of peace and tranquility in the region and the realization of lasting stability, Xi said.
