Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman has undertaken an official state visit to China upon the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking the first state visit by an Omani Sultan to the country. According to Oman's Ambassador to Beijing Anwar bin Ahmed Muqabil, bilateral trade between the two nations surpassed $25 billion (RO 9.6 billion) in 2025, with China remaining the largest market for Omani exports.
The bilateral summit centers on broadening investment across key economic sectors, including conventional and renewable energy, green hydrogen, manufacturing, ports, and special economic zones. Cooperation priorities also cover artificial intelligence, communications, the digital economy, logistics, and food security, aligning with Oman Vision 2040 diversification goals.
A significant element of the discussions is providing momentum to finalize negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Bilateral ties are coordinated through the Oman-China Joint Committee, which convened its 10th session in Beijing on December 29, 2025, chaired by Oman's undersecretary for commerce and industry and an assistant minister from China's Ministry of Commerce.
During the committee meeting, both sides examined proposals for an integrated industrial complex serving renewable energy supply chains, smart warehousing, and distribution hubs across Duqm, Sohar, and Salalah. The talks build upon the strategic partnership established between China and Oman in 2018 under the Belt and Road Initiative framework.
Sources
- The Arabian Stories · 2026-10-31
