A joint statement from the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
A joint statement by the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the occasion of the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Sultanate of Oman.
Proceeding from the well-established historical and brotherly ties that unite the leaderships of the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and between their two brotherly peoples, and in order to strengthen the close bilateral relations between them, and based on the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud – may God protect him – His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, visited the Sultanate of Oman on Monday and Tuesday December 6 & 7 2021.
A session of talks was held between His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik – may God protect him – the Sultan of Oman and His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. They reviewed prospects for joint cooperation and ways to develop them in various fields, praising cooperation and coordination in the political, economic, military and security fields for the good of the two brotherly countries and peoples.
The two sides praised the positive and fruitful results achieved during the historic visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik – may God protect him – to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in July 2021 AD to expand the scope of their bilateral relations, including the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the Omani-Saudi Coordination Council, which will contribute to achieving integration. The goal is in all fields being to serve the common interests of the two countries.
They affirmed their determination to raise the pace of joint economic cooperation by stimulating the public and private sectors to reach qualitative trade and investment exchanges that serve Oman's 2040 vision and the Kingdom's 2030 vision, and enhance partnership opportunities between the private sector in the two countries. In this context, the two sides welcomed the announcement of the opening of the 725 kilometre Omani-Saudi road, which will contribute to the smooth movement of citizens of the two countries and the integration of supply chains in order to achieve the desired economic integration between the two brotherly countries. They also welcomed the inauguration of Omani and Saudi ports.
Cooperation in the field of energy and climate change:
In the field of energy, the two sides praised the efforts of the OPEC Plus countries, led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and with the participation of the Sultanate of Oman, which led to the stability and balance of oil markets. They also stressed the importance of continuing this cooperation and the need for all participating countries to adhere to the OPEC Plus agreement.
The two sides also stressed the study of cooperation in joint opportunities in the field of oil, gas and petrochemical sector, strengthening cooperation in the field of petroleum products trade between the two countries, cooperation in the fields of renewable energy and its technologies, commercial exchange of electric energy, benefiting from the electrical connection, and maximizing the benefit of local content and national capabilities in energy sector projects.
In the field of climate change, the Omani side valued the efforts and initiatives of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in facing the phenomenon of climate change, the most important of which is the Green Saudi Initiative and the Green Middle East launched by His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. The two sides agreed to cooperate in the field of energy and climate change and to work jointly within the framework of the Green Middle East Initiative in a way that enhances the benefits and gains at the local, regional and global levels.
They also welcomed the strengthening of cooperation in the implementation of the circular carbon economy approach launched by the Kingdom during its presidency of the Group of Twenty and approved by the group as an integrated and comprehensive framework for addressing the challenges arising from greenhouse gas emissions and managing them through available technologies, as an approach that represents an economically sustainable way to manage emissions.
Business cooperation:
The two sides agreed to increase the facilities that contribute to the smooth flow of intra-trade and enhance cooperation in the field of food security, and to invest in opportunities in the sectors of standardisation, health and pharmaceutical industries, advanced technologies and innovation, renewable energy and industry projects, tourism projects, petrochemical projects, manufacturing industries, and logistical partnership and financial technology, in order to achieve common benefits for the two countries.
Two memoranda of understanding were signed in the commercial and standardisation fields.
The two sides also expressed their satisfaction with the results of the third meeting of the Saudi-Omani Business Council and the Economic Forum held on its sidelines.
A group of leading Omani and Saudi companies also signed a number of memoranda of understanding.Memoranda of understanding were signed between Okio with Aramco Trading Company, Okio with SABIC Petrochemical Company, the Oman International Logistics Group (ASYAD) with the Maritime Transport Company, and Okio with ACWA Company Bor, and the Oman Minerals Development Company with Ma'aden, and the Muscat Stock Exchange with the Saudi Tadawul Group.
Cooperation in the media field:
The two countries affirmed their keenness to raise the level of cooperation between them and welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding in the field of radio and television, a memorandum of understanding in the exchange of news between the Omani News Agency and Saudi Arabia, and a memorandum of understanding in the fields of audio-visual and print media.
They also welcomed the meeting of the Omani Journalists Association and the Saudi Journalists Association and the results that have been achieved that enhance joint media work.
Cooperation in the field of tourism:
The two sides expressed their determination to enhance and develop joint work in the tourism sector because of its importance in increasing economic growth, creating job opportunities for citizens and diversifying sources of income.
Political matters:
On the political front, the two sides affirmed the contents of the Al-Ula Declaration issued on January 5, 2021, which stipulated the implementation of the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, which was approved by the Supreme Council at its 36th session in December 2015, and assigning the Supreme Council to ministerial bodies, councils and committees And the technical, and the general secretariat and all the council’s organs to redouble efforts to complete the remaining steps according to a specific timetable, including completing the elements of economic unity within the framework of the Cooperation Council and the joint defence and security systems and formulating a unified and effective foreign policy for the council that preserves its interests and gains, avoids regional and international conflicts and meets the aspirations of its citizens .
The two sides exchanged views on issues and issues of concern to the two countries in the regional and international arenas, and affirmed work to coordinate their positions in a manner that serves their interests and enhances security and stability in the region and the world, and affirmed their support for all efforts aimed at achieving peace in the Middle East, and the importance of reaching a comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. In accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant international legitimacy resolutions, in a manner that guarantees the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
On the Yemeni issue, the two sides agreed to continue their efforts to find a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis, based on the Gulf initiative and its implementation mechanism, the outcomes of the comprehensive National Dialogue Conference, UN Security Council Resolution No. 2216, and the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to end the Yemeni crisis and end the human suffering of the brotherly Yemeni people.
The two sides welcomed the success of the electoral process in Iraq, and expressed their wishes for the formation of an Iraqi government that will continue to work for the security, stability and development of Iraq.
The two sides also welcomed the understandings reached by the parties to the transitional phase in Sudan, and affirmed their continued support for everything that would achieve security and stability in Sudan, as well as their wishes to Sudan and its brotherly people for stability and prosperity.
Regarding the Lebanese issue, the two sides stressed the importance of carrying out comprehensive reforms to ensure that Lebanon overcomes its crises, and that Lebanon does not become a launching pad for any terrorist or criminal acts that destabilise the security and stability of the region.
They also stressed the importance of reaching political solutions to the Syrian and Libyan crises in a way that ends the human suffering of the Syrian and Libyan peoples and preserves the unity and integrity of their territories.
With regard to Afghanistan, the two sides stressed the need to support security and stability in Afghanistan and not allow the existence of safe havens for terrorists and extremists in it and any acts aimed at recruiting Afghan refugees in the various conflict areas. The two sides expressed the importance of supporting relief efforts and humanitarian work in Afghanistan. In this regard, the Omani side appreciated the Kingdom’s invitation to a ministerial meeting. An extraordinary meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation countries to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, will be held in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on December 19, 2021.
They also stressed the importance of cooperation and dealing seriously and effectively with Iran's nuclear and missile file with all its components and repercussions in a way that contributes to achieving regional and international security and stability, emphasising the principles of good neighbourliness and respect for UN resolutions and international legitimacy, and sparing the region from all destabilising activities.
At the conclusion of the visit, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud expressed his thanks to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik – may God protect him – for the warm reception and hospitality which he and the accompanying delegation received.
His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik – may God protect him – also expressed his best wishes to his brother, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud – may God protect him – and progress and prosperity to the brotherly Saudi people.
Issued in the city of Muscat on December 7, 2021
This is an unofficial English translation of the original Arabic text. To view the official Arabic text, click here.