MUSCAT : His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s state visit to China, the first by an Omani Sultan, will provide an opportunity to expand investment and strengthen a strategic partnership between the two countries, Oman’s ambassador to Beijing said.

His Excellency Anwar bin Ahmed Muqabil told Oman News Agency that the visit marked a milestone in bilateral relations and reflected a shared commitment to broadening cooperation across political, economic, scientific and cultural fields.

Trade between Oman and China exceeded $25 billion in 2025, the ambassador said, with China accounting for the largest market for Omani exports.

The visit comes as the two countries seek closer cooperation in conventional and renewable energy, manufacturing, industrial supply chains, ports and special economic zones. Other priorities include artificial intelligence, communications, the digital economy, logistics and food security.

Muqabil said Oman’s position on international shipping routes, modern infrastructure and economic zones offered a foundation for attracting further Chinese investment, particularly in manufacturing, green hydrogen, renewable energy and logistics.

He highlighted the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, which hosts the China-Oman Industrial City, as a prominent example of bilateral economic cooperation. Omani authorities are also promoting opportunities in green industries, technology, chemicals and energy, he said.

The ambassador said deeper industrial cooperation and stronger links between production chains would support the diversification objectives of Oman Vision 2040.

Economic ties are coordinated through the Oman-China Joint Committee, established under a trade agreement signed in Beijing in October 1980 and ratified by Oman through Royal Decree No. 4/81.

At its 10th session in Beijing on December 29, 2025, the committee focused on increasing Chinese investment in Oman, particularly in industry.

The meeting was chaired by Oman’s undersecretary for commerce and industry and an assistant minister from China’s Ministry of Commerce.

The two sides agreed to establish a joint working team to prepare an implementation roadmap and examined a proposal for an integrated industrial complex serving renewable energy supply chains.

They also discussed cooperation in digital trade and cross-border e-commerce, including smart warehouses and distribution centres in Duqm, Sohar and Salalah.

The session supported efforts to conclude negotiations on a free trade agreement between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council and addressed memoranda of understanding intended to connect industrial production chains and strengthen investment links.

Oman and China established diplomatic relations on May 25, 1978. Their relationship was elevated to a strategic partnership in 2018, when they marked 40 years of diplomatic ties and signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

That framework expanded cooperation in energy, infrastructure, investment, finance, science and technology, logistics and cultural exchange.

The two foreign ministries hold regular strategic consultations, alternating between Muscat and Beijing. The 14th round took place in Beijing on April 21, 2025, led by His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Harthy, Oman’s undersecretary for political affairs, and his Chinese counterpart Liu Bin.

Muqabil said political relations were based on mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs and shared interests.

He said Oman’s role in promoting dialogue, alongside China’s international political and economic influence, provided opportunities to strengthen understanding between the Arab region and Asia and expand cooperation in multilateral forums.

The modern partnership builds on maritime links dating back more than a millennium.

According to historical accounts cited by Oman News Agency, the Omani merchant Abu Ubaydah Abdullah bin Al-Qasim sailed from Sohar to Canton, now Guangzhou, around 750. Chinese navigator Zheng He’s voyages to Oman in the 15th century provided another link between the two countries along the maritime trading routes.

Cultural and educational exchanges remain part of the relationship, supported by friendship associations in both countries.

The Oman-China Friendship Association, inaugurated on October 31, 2010, promotes cooperation between institutions and individuals in culture, business, science and sport. It complements the China-Oman Friendship Society, established in China in 2007.

The Oman association is chaired by Dr. Khalid bin Salim Al Saidi, with Her Excellency Lujaina Mohsen Haider Darwish Al Zaabi serving as honorary president.

Its activities include business and cultural forums, seminars and meetings with Omani students studying in China. The third Oman-China Friendship and Cooperation Forum was held in Salalah in July 2025 under the theme “Chinese Modernisation and Oman Vision 2040”.

Muqabil said the state visit offered a new starting point for the relationship, with opportunities to translate longstanding diplomatic and commercial ties into wider investment and cooperation.

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