MUSCAT: In statements to the Oman News Agency (ONA), the investors said the high-level meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and senior officials, alongside agreements and memoranda of understanding expected during the visit, could strengthen business confidence and pave the way for long-term investments in key sectors.

They also highlighted the potential to align Oman Vision 2040 with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, positioning the Sultanate as a regional gateway for Chinese companies seeking access to markets across the Gulf, Africa and the Indian Ocean.

Dr Jessica Liu, Chairperson of LY Capital Investment Company, described the visit as an important milestone in Omani-Chinese relations, pointing to the steady growth of economic and trade cooperation since the establishment of the strategic partnership in 2018.

She said bilateral trade reached US$32.87 billion in 2025, reflecting the scale of economic ties and shared interests between the two countries.

Liu said the visit offered an opportunity to move beyond traditional trade towards long-term investments, industrial integration and innovation-led development. She added that high-level engagements could strengthen investor confidence and facilitate cross-border partnerships, particularly in sectors requiring substantial capital and long-term commitments.

She identified four priority areas for expanding cooperation. The first is energy, including petrochemicals, renewable energy, green hydrogen, clean energy technologies and the development of oil and gas value chains.

The second covers infrastructure, logistics and advanced manufacturing, with opportunities to leverage the potential of the ports and special economic zones in Sohar, Duqm and Salalah. These include maritime transport, industrial complexes, processing facilities and supply chain development.

The third priority is the digital economy and technological innovation, particularly digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, smart cities, financial technology, research and workforce development.

The fourth involves diversifying investment into non-oil sectors, including mineral processing, aquaculture, modern agriculture, food industries, healthcare and sustainable tourism.

Liu stressed that translating agreements into tangible projects would require stronger coordination on investment and financing policies, harmonisation of technical standards, and training of national talent. Such cooperation, she said, would support technology transfer, strengthen productive sectors and generate mutual economic benefits.

For her part, Joanna Jiang, founder and CEO of Chinese company Juan Medical, said the Sultan’s visit offered an opportunity to expand bilateral investment partnerships, particularly in healthcare and medical sciences.

She said high-level engagement between the two countries would help build investor confidence, establish shared priorities and strengthen coordination between government institutions, businesses and financial organisations.

Jiang identified healthcare, life sciences, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, logistics and the digital economy as sectors offering significant potential for cooperation.

She added that closer partnerships in these fields could facilitate technology and knowledge transfer, improve services and create long-term economic and development opportunities for businesses in both countries.

His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik departed for China on November 1 for a two-day state visit at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. The visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation across various fields.