Sunday 10 / August / 2025
Salalah: The third session of the Omani-Chinese Friendship Forum 2025, which began on Thursday in Salalah, discussed strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership and expanding cooperation and investment between the Sultanate of Oman and the People's Republic of China.
The forum was organised under the theme: "Chinese Modernisation and Oman Vision 2040: Our Work and Proposals." It was an initiative by Al Roya newspaper, the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Oman, and the Oman-China Friendship Association, with the participation of a number of officials, experts, and specialists from both sides.
The forum was inaugurated by HH Sayyid Marwan bin Turki Al Said, Governor of Dhofar, who felicitated a number of speakers and participants.
In his speech, Hatim Hamad Al Tai, Secretary-General of the forum and Editor-in-Chief of Al Roya newspaper, affirmed that the forum serves as a platform to deepen dialogue, enhance mutual trust between the two countries, and explore new avenues for cooperation, in line with the shared potential and aspirations of Oman and China.
On his turn Dr. Saleh Said Masan, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion for Commerce and Industry, delivered a speech in which he said that the forum is a unique opportunity to exchange expertise and explore promising investment areas that serve the development priorities of both countries. He pointed out that Oman Vision 2040 represents a roadmap for a comprehensive economic and structural transformation.
For his part, Lyu Jian, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the Sultanate of Oman, praised the strength of the historical relations between the two countries, which span over 1,200 years. He noted that diplomatic relations, since their establishment in 1978, have witnessed stable and fruitful cooperation based on equality and mutual respect.
He clarified that the People’s Republic of China is Oman’s first trade partner with trade volume between the two countries reaching USD 36.7 billion in 2024. The People’s Republic of China is also the third-largest investor in Oman.
The Ambassador highlighted prominent joint projects, including the launch of the first Omani satellite, investments in the energy sector, and training programmes that have benefited over 1,200 Omanis. He also mentioned that the trade volume between the People’s Republic of China and GCC countries reached USD 288 billion in 2024, with Chinese investments growing by over 30 percent in the first half of 2025. He called for expanding cultural and humanitarian cooperation and launching direct flights between the two countries.
Dr. Khalid Salim Al Saidi, Chairman of the Oman-China Friendship Association, said that the association is a vital link in strengthening relations between the two countries. He emphasised that its role has gone beyond organising meetings to building cultural bridges, humanitarian understandings, and informal cooperation initiatives based on shared values and mutual interests.
Moreover, Naif Hamed Fadhil, Head of the Dhofar branch of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stressed the importance of the forum in fostering closer ties between business owners in both countries. He highlighted the need to enable bilateral investments in the fields of energy, technology, industry, logistics, and tourism, and called for forging more sustainable and impactful cooperation models.
The forum included discussions on four main themes: "Chinese Modernization and Oman Vision 2040," "Cooperation in the Energy Sector," "Partnership in Innovation and Technology," and "Cultural and Humanitarian Exchange."
The forum also featured a photo exhibition in cooperation with the Chinese Embassy in Oman, in addition to direct bilateral meetings (B2B) between business representatives from both countries to enhance partnership and investment opportunities.
Over 30 business owners and representatives of Omani and Chinese companies participated in the forum, which also included a special exhibition for the participating Chinese companies. The current session of the forum sought to solidify the strategic partnership between the two countries and explore new avenues of cooperation that support the priorities of Oman Vision 2040, leveraging the People’s Republic of China’s experience in economic and social modernisation.
