Dutch Prime Minister hosts working lunch for His Majesty
Dick Schoof, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, hosted a working lunch for His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said to mark His Majesty's State visit to the Netherlands, and to strengthen the cooperation and partnership between the two countries,
The event was attended by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his spouse Queen Máxima, at the Dutch government headquarters in The Hague.
His Majesty delivered a speech during the event as follows:
“Your Majesty, Mr Prime Minister,
“Thank you for your kind words and warm hospitality.
“The Netherlands has a strong reputation in Oman for its commitment to open dialogue, its emphasis on peace, and its pursuit of global understanding. These values resonate deeply with us, as our countries share an outward-looking and inquisitive seafaring past, so it is perhaps unsurprising that these Dutch qualities also lie at the heart of Oman’s cultural identity.
“I am delighted to be here with you today, not only to celebrate these shared values but also to explore new opportunities to deepen our relationship even further.
“The close ties and partnership between Oman and the Netherlands are built on a shared history of seafaring and commerce. The result is a dynamic strategic partnership, where we align our ambitions and complement each other’s strengths. This collaboration has led to the development of innovative projects that advance our shared goals and interests in logistics, trade, and green manufacturing and it leverages our countries’ respective expertise.
“Beyond trade and industry, the Netherlands is now well recognised as a valued partner in innovation and education. Currently, an increasing number of Omani students are enrolled in Dutch educational institutions, and we look forward to welcoming Dutch students to pursue their studies at educational institutions in Oman.
“As we navigate an evolving global landscape, Oman takes great pride in our close cooperation with the Netherlands in energy transition. Our joint focus on green hydrogen and our broader ambition to establish energy exchange corridors reflect our mutual commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future. Oman welcomes Dutch insight, investment, and technology as we pursue this transformation together.
“The strongest and most enduring bond between our countries is the connection between our peoples. The mutual trust, respect, and admiration between our communities ensure that our friendship will continue to thrive for generations to come. As we continue to champion our common values – justice, multilateralism, and the rule of law – I am confident that we can work together to promote peace and stability on a global scale.
“I look forward to strengthening this partnership even further. This visit has provided a valuable opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to dialogue, sustainability, and peace. These principles will empower us to take concrete steps toward achieving our shared objectives.
“Please accept my sincere appreciation for your warm welcome and for your unwavering dedication to expanding the Omani Dutch partnership. I look forward to the many opportunities that lie ahead.
Thank you.”
The Dutch Prime Minister in turn delivered a speech expressing his pleasure and appreciation for the visit of His Majesty and his accompanying delegation. He looked forward to working together to explore new avenues of cooperation, and economic and investment partnerships that would achieve mutual benefits for the two friendly countries.
He emphasised that the partnership between Oman and the Netherlands is increasingly shifting toward promising sectors such as green hydrogen, water management and sustainable logistics and mobility. He added that this is strengthening the partnership for the future, in a world growing more turbulent and unstable by the day.
He noted that his country highly appreciates the role played by Oman in the region and the world at large as a voice of reason and dialogue, affirming that both nations recognise the importance of open dialogue in building a better future for their two friendly peoples. He called for continued efforts toward this goal for the benefit of future generations.
This is an unofficial English version of an Arabic report. To view the official Arabic text, click here.