His Majesty's speech to official dinner in Belgium
The following is the text of the speech delivered by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the official dinner banquet hosted in his honour by His Majesty the King of the Belgians and his wife, Her Majesty the Queen of the Belgians in Brussels, during His Majesty's state visit to Belgium from December 2 to 4, 2024:
“We are so pleased to visit your great country and to be here with you in beautiful Brussels. We take immense pride and deep satisfaction in expressing our heartfelt gratitude for the highly constructive and insightful dialogue, as well as the comprehensive and fruitful consultations we have had the privilege of engaging in with Your Majesty and the Prime Minister today.
“These discussions have truly reflected a spirt of collaboration and mutual understanding, which will pave the way for meaningful progress towards shared aspirations.
“The deep rooted relations between our two countries are not only strong but well established. These relations have been reinforced and continue to flourish through high level visits, most notably Your Majesty's esteemed visit to Oman in February 2022. This visit was a milestone in our relations and witnessed the official inauguration of Duqm Port. It also marked the ceremonial launch of the Hyport Green Hydrogen Production Project, symbolising a new era of cooperation and sustainable development.
“In some ways, it seems as though just weeks have passed since your last visit.
“But when I reflect upon all that has been accomplished, I am truly delighted that such enormous progress has been achieved within just the last two years.
“Since then, our political, cultural, and economic cooperation has not only grown, but has also evolved into a robust partnership that fosters mutual understanding and respect.
“Belgium is now Oman's second biggest trading partner in the European Union, and our bilateral trade continues to expand. Through joint efforts and a commitment to common goals, we have built a dynamic relationship that continues to flourish and adapt to the challenges and opportunities of our time.
“The clearest demonstration of our achievements is reflected in the port and free zone of Duqm, which has witnessed a tremendous transformation since first partnering with the Port of Antwerp in 2010. Since then, Duqm has blossomed, in terms of innovation, infrastructure, and connectivity.
“Looking ahead, we hope our shared commitment to international norms will enable us together to overcome global challenges, from humanitarian crises to climate change and to upholding international law.
“So, Your Majesties, at the end, we must express our profound appreciation that Oman can count Belgium as a dear friend.
“Thank you for your hospitality, and for the support you have extended to Oman, during this visit and throughout our flourishing journey of friendship. We hope to have the privilege of welcoming your Majesties back once again to Muscat very soon to continue celebrating the progress of our joint partnership.”