China's Top Political Adviser Meets with Oman's Sultan

Jia Qinglin (L), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with Omani Sultan Qabus bin Said al-Said in Nizwah, Oman, Nov. 7, 2010. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng)

MUSCAT, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- China's top political adviser Jia Qinglin met Sunday with Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Saeed in Nizwa city, 140 km from the capital Muscat, during an official good-will visit to promote the bilateral relations.

Jia, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, hailed the traditional friendship between the two countries and raised proposals to deepen the cooperation.

The Chinese people would never forget Oman's assistance for the reconstruction after an 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck southwest China's Sichuan Province in 2008. An Oman Village, to be completed soon in Sichuan's Guangyuan city, will be a new symbol of the Sino-Omani friendship, Jia said.

The successful Beijing Olympic torch relay in the Sultanate and the splendid presentation of the Oman Pavilion during the Shanghai Expo have strengthened the cooperation between peoples of the two countries, he said.

Jia noted that Oman has become China's important partner in trade and energy cooperation in the Gulf area.

"I'm satisfied with the current situation of cooperation and confident about the future," he said.

The Chinese and Omani people have forged brotherly friendship. Leaders of the two countries pay great significance to promoting the bilateral relations. The potential for the cooperation is huge as the two economies are complementary, Jia said.

He proposed that the two sides should continue to strengthen political cooperation and expand the exchanges between governments and provinces and cities.

China and Oman should increase bilateral trade, encourage two-way investment, and promote the cooperation in the fields of construction, communication and electricity, Jia said.

He also noted the two sides should join hands to promote China's relations with the Arab states and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

For his part, Qaboos commended the historical friendship and the bilateral cooperation between China and Oman.

Oman pays great attention to developing its relations with China and is ready to promote the political mutual trust and the cooperation in all fields. Oman welcomes Chinese investment and also encourages its enterprises to invest in China, he said.

The Sultanate is willing to build a closer friendship with China and supports China's efforts to develop friendly cooperation with the Gulf region, Qaboos said.

During his stay in Oman, Jia met with members of the Oman-China Friendship Association, which was established Sunday.

Jia noted that the two countries were tied through the Sea Silk Road and Spice Route in the sixth century. China's great sailor Zheng He led his fleets to arrive in Oman for three times in the Ming Dynasty in the 15th century. The bilateral relations have been developing fast in all the fields since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1978.

Jia stressed that the traditional friendship should be cherished and expanded. The establishment of the association mirrors the willingness of the Sultanate to strengthen friendship and cooperation.

The association should keep close contact with its counterpart in China to become an important envoy between the two countries, he said.

Oman is the third leg of Jia's four-state visit. He has visited Syria and Poland and will visit Kazakhstan.

Source: Xinhua