Oman China Joint Committee discusses expanding economic cooperation

The Oman-China Joint Committee met in the Chinese capital of Beijing to review ways to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two friendly countries and expand cooperation in the economic, commercial, investment and industrial fields.

The overall aim is to raise the volume of trade and deepen integration in global supply chains.

The Omani delegation at the Committee's tenth meeting was chaired  by Dr Saleh bin Saeed Messan, Undersecretary for Commerce and Industry at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion  (MCIIP), while the Chinese delegation was chaired by Zhang Li, Assistant Minister at the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

The meeting discussed practical steps to strengthen the bilateral partnership, including the formation of an Oman-China working group to prepare an executive roadmap for the work of the Joint Committee. The group aims to encourage the Chinese Government to expand its industrial investments in the Sultanate of Oman in order to support Oman's economic diversification efforts.

The group also aims to encourage agreement on a number of memoranda of understanding to link industrial production chains and strengthen investment cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting also discussed the efforts being made to complete the negotiation of a free trade agreement between the People's Republic of China and the countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC).

Such an agreement would contribute to boosting economic, trade and investment cooperation, and to making trade smoother while also integrating regional markets.

The Committee reviewed a proposal to establish an integrated industrial complex for the supply chains of renewable energy industries. This project would reflect the depth of the economic partnership between the two countries and would open new horizons for cooperation in value-added sectors.

Dr Mesan said that the economic relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the People's Republic of China are witnessing growth that reflects the depth of the strategic partnership between the two countries. He added that Oman is keen to enhance cooperation in value-added sectors, and to benefit from the leading Chinese experience in the fields of advanced industry, technology and renewable energy, in order to support the objectives of the Oman Vision 2040, and to enhance the stability of global supply chains.

The meeting was attended by Minister Plenipotentiary Ali bin Khalfan Alhassani, Chargé d'Affaires of Oman's Embassy in China, and a number of Omani and Chinese officials.

On the sidelines of the committee meeting, the Undersecretary met with the Assistant Minister of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. During their meeting, they discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and deepen the economic partnership between the two friendly countries.

The meeting also discussed cooperation in the field of cross-border e-commerce, through the establishment of smart warehouses and distribution centres in the special economic zones and free zones in Duqm, Sohar and Salalah. This would contribute to consolidating Oman's position as a digital gateway for China to the Gulf region's markets.

The meeting also reviewed investment and manufacturing opportunities in Oman relating to products with regional and global demand, benefitting from free trade agreements, and developing value-added chains. The Ministers agreed to form a joint working group on trade, investment and digital trade.

Dr Mesen also paid a visit to Xiongan International Trade Centre in Xiong'an New City in Hebei Province, during which he was briefed on the latest international developments in the management of integrated commercial cities and smart economic zones.

The Undersecretary also visited the Chinese group Sinochem, the largest chemical group in the world, to review opportunities for cooperation and industrial investments, and to introduce the investment aspirations of Oman in priority sectors.

Chinese direct investment in Oman reached OMR 854 million at the end of the second quarter of 2025. Figures for the end of 2024 indicate an increase in trade between the two countries. The value of goods imported from China exceeded OMR 1.8 billion Omani, representing about 11 percent of Omans's total imports The value of Omani non-oil commodity exports to China amounted to more than OMR 216 million.