At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik Al Said of Oman paid a state visit to China from November 1 to 2. This was the first China visit by an Omani head of state since diplomatic ties were established 48 years ago in 1978.
Ding Long, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told Global Times that with tensions mounting in the Strait of Hormuz, and Oman, which has been a long-standing active mediator in regional disputes, coming under pressure as well, the visit reflects the country’s efforts to strengthen strategic support and enhance diplomatic autonomy.
Oman is the only member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to consistently maintain positive relations with Iran, and it has played a pivotal role in regional diplomacy, including hosting rounds of talks between Iran and the United States. Its peaceful policy has earned at least one threat from US President Donald Trump to bomb the country.
Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik Al Said on November 2. He said that China stands ready to work with Oman to steer their strategic partnership to a higher level, and to help restore peace and realise lasting stability in the Middle East at an early date. China and Oman, he added, should enhance political mutual trust and strengthen exchanges of experience in national governance, while expressing China’s support for Oman in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty, security and stability, and in independently exploring a development path suited to its national conditions. And China, he said, is ready to deepen the synergy of development strategies with Oman and to be a stable and reliable partner in the energy sector, a partner with promising potential in investment, and a partner in fostering innovation in advanced technologies.
“China has been actively committed to ending hostilities and promoting peace, aiming to contribute its wisdom and solutions to resolving the regional security predicament,” Xi said, adding that China will continue to advocate resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means, and support regional countries in building a common home of good-neighbourliness, development, security and cooperation.
Stressing that China has been Oman’s largest trading partner for many years and Chinese enterprises’ investment in Oman has kept growing, Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik said his country is ready to synergise development strategies with China and strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, industry, infrastructure, AI, science and technology, and other fields. He said Oman highly appreciates China’s just position on the Middle East issue and stands ready to maintain close coordination with China to uphold international law, advocate for the peaceful resolution of disputes, and jointly promote security and stability in the region and beyond.
Later that day, Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Li said the talks between the two heads of state earlier that morning mapped out a new blueprint for further deepening the China-Oman strategic partnership. He expressed China’s willingness to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with Oman, deepen cooperation across the entire oil and gas industry chain, and carry out more high-quality clean energy projects and called on both sides to expand cooperation in areas such as agriculture and fisheries, aerospace satellites, information and communication, and artificial intelligence, and promote the early conclusion of the free trade agreement negotiations between China and the GCC. He stressed that China and Oman, both Global South countries, should maintain close communication and coordination in multilateral affairs to jointly safeguard world peace and stability.
Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik said Oman deeply admires China’s development achievements, which have attracted attention worldwide. Oman looks forward to learning from China’s development experience and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. Oman is willing to enhance communication and coordination with China in international and regional affairs and to contribute to resolving conflicts and maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region.
In a potentially significant but under-reported related development, also on November 2, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met separately with the Deputy Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and the National Security Advisor of Saudi Arabia.
Meeting with Deputy Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Bagheri Kani, Wang Yi stated that China-Iran relations have maintained steady development despite a volatile international landscape. This serves the fundamental interests of both peoples and reflects the aspirations of Global South countries for solidarity and cooperation. China supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty and security and is willing to work with Iran to further advance bilateral relations.
Ali Bagheri Kani briefed Wang Yi on Iran’s views concerning the regional situation, stating that Iran would firmly safeguard its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and resist power politics and threats. Iran is also willing to engage in talks and negotiations with all parties and work actively for regional peace and stability. The Iranian side appreciates the initiatives and proposals put forward by President Xi Jinping and China’s consistent commitment to multilateralism. Iran looks forward to China playing a greater role in international and regional peace. Iran stands ready to promote the steady development of bilateral ties and to strengthen cooperation with China in international and multilateral frameworks.
In his meeting with Wang Yi, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers, and National Security Advisor Musaad bin Mohammed Al-Aiban handed over a letter from Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman to President Xi Jinping regarding the development of China-Saudi bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern.
Wang Yi said that the current regional situation has once again reached a critical crossroads between war and peace. Although the road to peace is not smooth, it is necessary to keep moving forward. He hoped that all parties would resolve disputes and end the conflict through dialogue and negotiation, safeguarding regional energy and shipping security. China believes that countries in the region should enhance understanding, rebuild mutual trust, improve relations, and live harmoniously, promoting the construction of a new regional security framework that serves the long-term interests of their peoples through consultation.
The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency and on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. The report on Wang Yi’s meeting with the Saudi National Security Advisor was published in Chinese and was machine translated and sub-edited by us.
Xi holds talks with Sultan of Oman, stressing bilateral cooperation, peace efforts in Middle East
BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) — President Xi Jinping said on Monday that China stands ready to work with Oman to steer their strategic partnership to a higher level, and to help restore peace and realize lasting stability in the Middle East at an early date.
Xi made the remarks during talks with Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik Al Said of Oman, who is on a state visit to China — the first by Oman’s head of state since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 48 years ago.
The talks constituted an important chapter in the history of China-Oman relations and will inject strong impetus into the development of bilateral ties, Xi said.
He said China and Oman should enhance political mutual trust and strengthen exchanges of experience in national governance, while expressing China’s support for Oman in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty, security and stability, and in independently exploring a development path suited to its national conditions.
The two sides should expand practical cooperation and continuously cement the foundation of mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, he said, adding that China is committed to promoting high-quality development and expanding high-standard opening up, which will bring greater opportunities to Oman and other countries.
China is ready to deepen the synergy of development strategies with Oman and be a stable and reliable partner in the energy sector, a partner with promising potential in investment, and a partner in fostering innovation within advanced technologies, he said.
China aims to make bilateral energy cooperation more multi-dimensional and comprehensive, strengthen exchanges in industry, investment, artificial intelligence (AI), science and technology, and people-to-people ties, and join hands on the paths toward development, revitalization, and modernization, Xi said.
He also called for efforts to intensify cooperation in such fields as education, tourism, health, media and sports, to continuously substantiate the China-Oman strategic partnership.
Xi noted that the Middle East and the Gulf region should not become an arena for major power rivalry or geopolitical conflicts, and that concerted efforts are needed to foster and maintain peace and stability in the region.
“China has been actively committed to ending hostilities and promoting peace, aiming to contribute its wisdom and solutions to resolving the regional security predicament,” Xi said.
China will continue to advocate resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means, and support regional countries in building a common home of good-neighborliness, development, security and cooperation, he added.
China is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with Oman and other Arab states and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to jointly work for the early restoration of peace and tranquility in the region and the realization of lasting stability, Xi said.
Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik said that Oman firmly adheres to the one-China principle and supports China in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He expressed hope that this visit will serve as a new starting point to explore more cooperation opportunities with China, and build a future-oriented partnership and promote greater development of bilateral relations.
Stressing that China has been Oman’s largest trading partner for many years and Chinese enterprises’ investment in Oman has kept growing, Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik said Oman is ready to synergize development strategies with China and strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, industry, infrastructure, AI, science and technology, and other fields.
He said Oman highly appreciates China’s just position on the Middle East issue and stands ready to maintain close coordination with China to uphold international law, advocate for the peaceful resolution of disputes, and jointly promote security and stability in the region and beyond.
After their talks, the two leaders jointly witnessed the signing of cooperation documents covering areas including industrial and supply chains, green development and digital finance.
During the visit, the two sides issued a joint statement on deepening the China-Oman strategic partnership.
Prior to the talks, Xi held a welcome ceremony for Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik in the Great Hall of the People. Xi also held a welcome banquet for him at noon.
Chinese premier meets Sultan of Oman
BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik Al Said of Oman in Beijing on Monday.
Li said the talks between the two heads of state earlier this morning mapped out a new blueprint for further deepening the China-Oman strategic partnership.
China is ready to work with Oman to carry forward traditional friendship, consolidate political mutual trust, strengthen mutual support, promote cooperation in various fields, and better serve the modernization of the two countries, he noted.
Li expressed China’s willingness to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with Oman, deepen cooperation across the entire oil and gas industry chain, and carry out more high-quality clean energy projects.
He called on both sides to expand cooperation in areas such as agriculture and fisheries, aerospace satellites, information and communication, and artificial intelligence, and promote the early conclusion of the free trade agreement negotiations between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Li added the two sides should expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges, including within the culture and education sectors, and further facilitate two-way personnel exchanges.
China and Oman, both Global South countries, should maintain close communication and coordination in multilateral affairs to jointly safeguard world peace and stability, Li added.
Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik, who is on a state visit to China, said Oman deeply admires China’s development achievements, which have attracted attention worldwide. Oman looks forward to learning from China’s development experience and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, he added.
Oman is willing to enhance communication and coordination with China in international and regional affairs, and contribute to resolving conflicts and maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region, he noted.
Wang Yi Meets with Deputy Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Bagheri Kani
November 2 (MFA) – On November 2, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met with Deputy Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Bagheri Kani in Beijing.
Wang Yi stated that as fighting in the Middle East drags on and its spillover effects spread, dialogue and negotiations offer the way forward. All parties should act with a sense of responsibility to their people and to history, meet each other halfway, and focus on a political solution in a rational and pragmatic manner, rather than resort to arms again. China stands ready to follow the initiatives and propositions put forward by President Xi Jinping on easing the situation in the Middle East and work together with all parties continuously to restore regional peace.
Wang Yi stated that China-Iran relations have maintained steady development despite a volatile international landscape. This serves the fundamental interests of both peoples and reflects the aspirations of Global South countries for solidarity and cooperation. China supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty and security, and is willing to work with Iran to further advance bilateral relations.
Ali Bagheri Kani briefed Wang Yi on Iran’s views concerning the regional situation, stating that Iran would firmly safeguard its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and resist power politics and threats. Iran is also willing to engage in talks and negotiations with all parties and work actively for regional peace and stability. The Iranian side appreciates the initiatives and proposals put forward by President Xi Jinping and China’s consistent commitment to multilateralism. Iran looks forward to China playing a greater role in international and regional peace. Iran stands ready to promote the steady development of bilateral ties and strengthen cooperation with China in international and multilateral frameworks.
Wang Yi holds talks with Saudi National Security Advisor Aiban
November 2 (MFA) – On November 2, 2026, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office, held talks in Beijing with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers, and National Security Advisor Musaad bin Mohammed Al-Aiban. Aiban handed over a letter from Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman to President Xi Jinping regarding the development of China-Saudi bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern.
Wang Yi stated that Saudi Arabia has always been an important comprehensive strategic partner of China, and China has prioritised developing relations with Saudi Arabia in its Middle East diplomacy. Under the strategic guidance of the top leaders of both countries, China-Saudi relations have maintained a steady momentum. Both sides have strengthened political trust, maintained strategic communication, and promoted pragmatic cooperation, becoming a stabilising force in the region. China is willing to work with Saudi Arabia to continuously promote new progress in bilateral relations.
The two sides exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East and Gulf region. Wang Yi said that the current regional situation has once again reached a critical crossroads between war and peace. Although the road to peace is not smooth, it is necessary to keep moving forward. He hoped that all parties would resolve disputes and end the conflict through dialogue and negotiation, safeguarding regional energy and shipping security. China believes that countries in the region should enhance understanding, rebuild mutual trust, improve relations, and live harmoniously, promoting the construction of a new regional security framework that serves the long-term interests of their peoples through consultation. China is willing to uphold President Xi Jinping’s series of initiatives and proposals on maintaining regional peace and stability, communicate and coordinate with all parties, including Saudi Arabia, and to play a constructive role in helping the region emerge from turmoil at an early date and achieve lasting stability.
