The state visits of His Majesty Sultan Haitam bin Tarik to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar represent a practical confirmation of the strong and distinguished historical relations between the two brotherly countries and peoples.
For over five decades, relations between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) governments have been characterised by cooperation, mutual respect and understanding on various regional and international issues.
The relations have grown from strength to strength, yielding ambitious economic partnerships and joint action on the GCC, which has seen a merging of strategic aims and a shared vision for economic diversification. Likewise, connections at the people-to-people level run deep thanks to bonds of history, shared Arab customs and traditions, and a common Gulf Arab heritage.
When it comes to the Sultanate of Oman and Saudi Arabia, the two countries coordinate their actions in accordance with the region’s common visions and strategic goals, with a view to achieving integration between member states in different fields.
A similar cooperative spirit informs their roles at the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the UN and various international bodies.
This is evident from what Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidy, Foreign Minister, made before the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, “We, in the Sultanate of Oman, are part of this interconnected world with which we share common interests and destiny. We are pleased with what pleases the world and regret what is harmful to it. Therefore, we strive with all our energies and capabilities to contribute to the advancement of peace at all regional and international levels”.
From Saudi Arabia’s part, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Oman on December 6 as he embarked on a tour of neighbouring Gulf states.
The two countries signed 13 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for joint work on specific projects within economic sectors through several companies owned by the Oman Investment Authority and Oman’s private sector alongside their Saudi counterparts.
His Majesty Sultan Haitham’s accession to the throne, on this day two years back following the passing away of late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, came at a critical moment when large parts of the world, including the Arab region, faced challenges on multiple fronts: political, economic, social and health.
SAUDI VISIT PAVES WAY FOR MORE COOPERATION
His Majesty Sultan Haitham’s visit to Saudi Arabia on July 11 and 12, 2021 marks his first foreign trip after becoming the country’s leader, testifying clearly to the importance of the relationship between the two countries.
Leaders of the two countries exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and agreed to coordinate their positions in a way that would serve their interests and support security and stability in the region and globally.
Regarding Yemen, the two sides expressed an identical view on the need to continue their efforts to find a comprehensive political settlement to the Yemeni crisis based on the Gulf initiative and its executive mechanism, the outcomes of Yemen’s Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216, as well as the Saudi initiative to end the Yemeni crisis and alleviate the humanitarian suffering of the brotherly Yemeni people.
While leaders of both countries called for political solutions to the Syrian and Libyan crises in a way that ends the human suffering and preserves the unity and integrity of their territories, they also stressed the importance of cooperation and dealing seriously and effectively with all aspects and repercussions of the Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile issues.
The royal visit witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of an Omani-Saudi Coordination Council co-chaired by the foreign ministers of both countries to strengthen bilateral relations in all fields.
They affirmed their determination to enhance the pace of joint economic cooperation by stimulating the government and private sectors to reach qualitative trade and investment exchanges that serve the Oman Vision 2040 and Saudi Vision 2030 and, promote opportunities for partnership between the private sector in the two countries.
Another important decision during the visit was the opening of the direct land route and border crossing, contributing to the smooth movement of citizens of the two countries and the integration of supply chains as a prelude to achieving the cherished economic integration between the two brotherly countries.
On cooperation in the field of trade and investment, the two sides agreed to increase the facilities that contribute to the smooth flow of intra-regional trade, enhance cooperation in the field of food security, and investment opportunities in the sectors of standardisation, health, pharmaceutical industries, advanced technologies and innovation, renewable energy and industrial projects, tourism projects, petrochemical projects, manufacturing industries and logistics partnership as well as financial technology so as to achieve common benefits for the two countries.
QATAR VISIT OPENS NEW HORIZONS OF TALKS
The historic visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the State of Qatar on November 22 and 23, 2021, opened new horizons of consultation, coordination and cooperation between the two countries.
The visit came after an invitation from Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, Emir of Qatar, that witnessed extensive bilateral discussions reviewing the relations between the two brotherly countries, enhancing and developing them in all fields and exchanging views on several regional and international issues.
With regard to bilateral relations, the two sides reiterated the strong political will of the leadership of both countries to promote all aspects of cooperation at all levels.
At the regional and international levels, the two leaders agreed on the importance of the Gulf Cooperation Council in strengthening the security and stability of the region. They stressed the need to strengthen discussions and coordinate positions at a bilateral level in various regional and international forums to serve Arab and Islamic issues and support just humanitarian causes.
At the forefront of these being the Palestinian cause and promoting security and stability in the Middle East and the world.
HM Sultan Haitham and the Emir Shaikh Tamim attended the signing of six agreements covering military cooperation, avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of tax evasion on income, capital, labour and investment, as well as deals on tourism and hotels, maritime transport and ports.
The military cooperation agreement was signed on the Omani side by HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik al Said, deputy prime minister for defence affairs and from the Qatari side by Shaikh Khalid bin Muhammad al Attiyah, deputy prime minister and minister of state for defence affairs.
An investment cooperation deal was signed between the Omani Investment Authority and the Qatari Investment Authority, along with two other agreements that covered tourism and hotels along with maritime transport and ports.
MEETING WITH QUEEN ELIZABETH II
His Majesty Sultan Haitham during his visit to the United Kingdom, which lasted for several days, met Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Head of the Commonwealth, in addition to a number of senior UK officials.
Her Majesty, 95, wearing a pale blue dress, her trademark pearls and a sapphire brooch, was pictured smiling as she shook hands with His Majesty and greeted him at her Berkshire castle.
The face-to-face meeting was termed as a demonstration of the importance the UK places on its relationship with the Sultanate of Oman.
During his private visit, which started on December 14, 2021, His Majesty the Sultan met with Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister, at 10 Downing Street in London.
The meeting reviewed historic relations binding the two countries and means of promoting them in various spheres to serve the joint interests of the Omani and British peoples.
The two sides also exchanged views on current international issues of common concern.
July 11, 2021: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik arrives in Neom, Saudi Arabia, on a two-day visit to the Kingdom in his first foreign trip since he assumed office on January 11, 2020
July 12: Leaders of the two countries exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest
Signs a document to establish a joint coordination council to oversee several agreements
December 6, 2021: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman al Saud, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, arrived in the Sultanate of Oman
The two countries sign 13 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for joint work on specific projects
December 8: A 725 kilometres long road from the Sultanate of Oman to Saudi Arabia opens
Highlights
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