His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China witnessed the signing of an agreement, 14 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and a cooperation protocol, at the Great Hall of the People in China, as part of His Majesty’s state visit.

The agreement concerns currency exchange between the Central Bank of Oman and the People’s Bank of China. The memoranda of understanding cover the enhancement of investment cooperation in green development, media and news, information exchange, science, technology and innovation. They also address regulatory cooperation in securities and futures, data and the digital economy, the peaceful uses of space, space science, technologies and applications, artificial intelligence, BeiDou satellite navigation system applications, central bank digital currencies, investment in industrial and supply chains, competition protection and anti-monopoly, vegetation development, natural protected area management, historical documentation and archives management.

The protocol concerns inspection, quarantine and health requirements for dried dates exported to China.

The agreements were signed on behalf of Oman by Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, Engineer Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, Ahmed bin Jaafar Al Musalmi, Governor of the Central Bank of Oman, Anwar bin Hilal Al Jabri, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion and Ambassador Anwar bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Muqaibal, Ambassador of Oman to the People’s Republic of China.

On behalf of China, the signatories included Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce; Shen Haixiong, President of China Media Group; Fu Hua, President of Xinhua News Agency; Yin Hejun, Minister of Science and Technology; Wu Qing, Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission; Sun Meijun, Head of the General Administration of Customs of China; Liu Liehong, Head of the National Data Administration; Shan Zhongde, Director of the China National Space Administration; Zheng Shanjie, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission; Pan Gongsheng, Governor of the People’s Bank of China; Liu Guiping, Head of the State Administration for Market Regulation; Wang Shaojun, Director of the National Archives Administration; and Yan Shen, Deputy Director of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

Engineer Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, said that the signing of four MoUs in communications and information technology with several government entities in the People’s Republic of China represents an important step towards expanding international partnerships in priority technological fields and strengthening Oman’s efforts to benefit from international experience and expertise in developing the digital economy, artificial intelligence and space sectors.

In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), he said that China has advanced expertise and extensive technological capabilities in these fields. Cooperation with China would open up wider prospects for knowledge transfer, technology localisation, national capacity building and creating greater opportunities for companies and institutions operating in the technology sectors.

He explained that the four memoranda cover artificial intelligence, the peaceful uses of space, space science, technologies and applications, the BeiDou satellite navigation system, and data and the digital economy. They align with the priorities of the Eleventh Five-Year Development Plan and the objectives of the National Digital Economy Programme by strengthening cooperation and exchanging expertise and information, supporting start-ups and developing specialised skills.

He added that Oman looks forward to expanding cooperation with Chinese companies and encouraging them to use Oman as a platform for expansion into Middle Eastern and African markets, benefiting from its strategic location, regional and international connectivity and promising investment opportunities in technology sectors.

He noted that these memoranda extend the course of Omani-Chinese cooperation and reflect Oman’s commitment to strengthening its presence in international cooperation on artificial intelligence, particularly following its accession as a founding member of the International Organisation for Artificial Intelligence Cooperation.

Anwar bin Hilal Al Jabri, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, affirmed that His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s state visit to the People’s Republic of China marks an important milestone in bilateral relations. It enhances prospects for economic and investment partnerships between the two countries, supporting economic diversification, the development of value-added industries and the utilisation of China’s industrial and technological capabilities alongside Oman’s competitive advantages.

In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), he said that trade relations between the two countries reflect the depth of their economic partnership. Bilateral trade reached approximately OMR 9.6 billion in 2025, with Omani exports to China amounting to around OMR 7.7 billion and imports totalling approximately OMR 1.9 billion. China ranks first among Oman’s trading partners, accounting for around 23.8 per cent of Oman’s total trade. These indicators provide an important foundation for expanding cooperation in production and investment sectors and diversifying bilateral trade.

He explained that the signing of an MoU with China’s Ministry of Commerce to enhance investment cooperation in industrial and supply chains represents an important step towards attracting high-quality industrial investments and developing joint projects. These would benefit from Oman’s economic and free zones and ports, connect national industries to global production networks, enhance export opportunities and facilitate knowledge and technology transfer.

He noted that the MoU signed with China’s State Administration for Market Regulation on competition protection and anti-monopoly supports efforts to develop the regulatory environment for markets. It provides for the exchange of expertise and regulatory practices, promotes fair competition, transparency and equal opportunities, improves market efficiency and strengthens investor confidence.

Anwar bin Hilal Al Jabri affirmed that the two memoranda complement each other by combining the expansion of the industrial and investment base with the development of a competitive business environment. He noted that the Ministry would translate the areas of cooperation into practical initiatives that generate added value for the national economy, support the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and consolidate Oman’s position as an active economic partner in global trade and production chains.

Ahmed bin Jaafar Al Musalmi, Governor of the Central Bank of Oman, said that China is one of Oman’s most important economic partners. The signing of the agreement reflects the two countries’ commitment to strengthening financial and economic cooperation in support of their national aspirations and underscores the importance of partnerships founded on mutual trust.

In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), he added that the currency swap agreement between the Central Bank of Oman and the People’s Bank of China would serve several national objectives, foremost among them enhancing financial stability in support of economic development and strengthening international partnerships in line with Oman Vision 2040.

Regarding the MoU on cooperation in central bank digital currencies, he said that China has one of the world’s most advanced central bank digital currency systems. He expressed his satisfaction with formalising cooperation between the two countries in this field through the signing of an MoU with the People’s Bank of China to exchange expertise and experiences related to this technology.

Ambassador Anwar bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Muqaibal, Ambassador of Oman to the People’s Republic of China, explained that the MoU between the Environment Authority of Oman and China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration aims to enhance cooperation in vegetation development and natural protected area management. This includes the sustainable management of degraded lands, sand dune stabilisation, afforestation and environmental monitoring. It also seeks to facilitate the exchange of expertise, technologies and scientific research and build capacities through training programmes and reciprocal visits by specialists.

In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), he said that the MoU signed between Oman’s National Records and Archives Authority and China’s National Archives Administration aims to strengthen cooperation in historical documentation and records and archives management. This includes the exchange of documents and expertise in digital management and long-term archival preservation, capacity development and knowledge exchange through training programmes, scientific research, reciprocal visits and the organisation of specialised conferences and exhibitions.