Chinese President Xi Jinping told Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said that West Asia and the Gulf must not become a theatre for great-power rivalry, as the Omani ruler, on the first such visit since ties began in 1978, signalled readiness for a preferential trade and investment deal
China is prepared to work with Arab nations towards lasting peace in West Asia, President Xi Jinping told Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said in Beijing on Monday, cautioning that the Gulf region should not be turned into an arena for great-power rivalry, as the US-Israeli war on Iran continues to unsettle the area.
Xi told the sultan that the world is undergoing “profound changes unseen in a century”. According to China’s Foreign Ministry, he said peace and stability in the region required “joint nurturing and protection by all parties”, and that the Gulf should not become an arena for great-power rivalry and geopolitical conflict.
Beijing, he said, had consistently been committed to ending the war and hoped to offer “wisdom and solutions to resolving the region’s security dilemmas”. He added that China was willing to step up communication and coordination with Arab countries, including the Gulf Cooperation Council states, to help restore peace and secure lasting stability and security.
Beijing steps up diplomacy
China has traditionally kept a low diplomatic profile in West Asia, but has intensified its efforts to help ease tensions during the war on Iran, which has snarled the Strait of Hormuz and pushed up global energy and shipping costs. Last week, the Foreign Ministry said China would soon dispatch special envoys to the region to promote engagement and de-escalation.
More from WorldFirst visit by an Omani head of state
Haitham arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a two-day visit, the first by an Omani head of state since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1978. He was welcomed on the tarmac by People’s Bank of China Governor Pan Gongsheng.
Omani state media reported that the sultan told Xi his government deeply appreciated China’s positions on key regional issues. “We believe that development and stability are inextricably linked,” he said, adding that the prosperity of nations required an environment defined by security, peace, respect for state sovereignty and adherence to international law, in which disputes are settled by peaceful means.
Trade and investment ties
Haitham said Oman was open to a preferential bilateral trade and investment agreement with China. “We are confident that such an agreement would open new avenues for trade and investment, facilitate and enhance commercial and investment exchanges between our two nations,” he said. He also stressed cooperation between investment and financial institutions.
China is Oman’s largest trade partner, and tourism and business links have been boosted by direct flights between Beijing and Muscat since November last year. Oman, which exports crude oil and energy products to China, has also been seeking to develop its renewable energy supply chains and digital commerce further.
