According to Chinese state broadcaster CGTN, Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said arrived in Beijing yesterday, Sunday, to begin the first-ever visit to China by an Omani head of state.
Chinese President Xi Jinping rolled out the red carpet to warmly welcome the Sultan at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday, November 2. The visit, made at Xi’s invitation, highlights the historic friendship and rapidly growing cooperation between Oman and China across many important sectors.
The high-level visit also comes amid sharply heightened tensions in the Middle East due to the war between the United States and Iran. Oman is China’s fifth-largest source of crude oil and its fourth-largest trading partner among Arab countries. Bilateral trade reached US$36.73 billion in 2024.
The two-day state visit comes 48 years after the two countries formally established diplomatic relations in May 1978. By Rithy
