Oman, UK Review Bilateral Ties, Vow to Strengthen Cooperation Across Key Sectors
London, The Gulf Observer: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham held a bilateral meeting at 10 Downing Street in London, reviewing longstanding relations between the two countries and exploring ways to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The meeting took place during Sultan Haitham’s state visit to the United Kingdom, highlighting the historic friendship between Oman and Britain and their shared commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation.
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed opportunities to enhance collaboration in technology, defence, security, trade and cultural affairs, with a focus on advancing mutual interests and promoting prosperity.
Welcoming the Omani monarch to Downing Street, Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed his pleasure at meeting Sultan Haitham in person on the historic occasion of the state visit. He highlighted the centuries-old ties between the two countries, describing them as longstanding friends with a deep tradition of cooperation.
The British prime minister noted that bilateral trade between Oman and the United Kingdom stood at approximately £1.7 billion, expressing confidence that the economic relationship could be expanded further.
He said the state visit offered an important opportunity to strengthen existing partnerships and achieve tangible progress in bilateral relations.
Burnham also acknowledged the challenging situation in the Middle East and praised Oman’s efforts to find solutions, build partnerships and facilitate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international trade.
He reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s appreciation for Oman’s diplomatic efforts and assured Sultan Haitham of Britain’s continued support and cooperation.
In response, Sultan Haitham expressed his gratitude to the British prime minister for the warm welcome, describing the visit as an important occasion for further strengthening the historic relationship between the two countries.
The Omani monarch emphasised that Oman and Britain shared deep-rooted ties and a strong foundation for cooperation, noting that their longstanding partnership had produced positive results over the years.
He expressed confidence that the two countries would achieve further successes in the coming years through continued engagement, coordination and mutual support.
Referring to the regional situation, Sultan Haitham acknowledged the challenges facing the Middle East and highlighted Oman’s efforts to contribute to addressing the crisis. He expressed hope that conditions would return to normal and reaffirmed Oman’s commitment to working towards that objective.
He also underscored the close coordination between Oman and the United Kingdom, expressing appreciation for their continued cooperation in addressing shared challenges.
Following the bilateral meeting, Sultan Haitham and Prime Minister Burnham chaired an expanded session of talks attended by the Omani monarch’s accompanying official delegation and senior British officials.
The discussions focused on existing areas of cooperation and the bilateral partnership, with both sides examining ways to broaden and develop collaboration across various sectors in line with the aspirations of the two countries for greater progress and prosperity.
The leaders also exchanged views on regional and international developments and their implications for regional security. They emphasised the importance of strengthening coordination and uniting international efforts to contain crises, support peace initiatives and promote security and stability.
At the conclusion of the talks, Sultan Haitham signed the visitors’ book at Downing Street, expressing his pleasure at the visit and his hope that relations between Oman and the United Kingdom would continue to grow and advance in pursuit of their shared objectives.
