On July 31, 2025, the China-Oman Friendship and Cooperation Forum was successfully held in Salalah, Oman, with Ambassador Lyu Jian delivering a keynote speech. The event was attended by approximately 150 participants, including: His Highness Sayyid Marwan bin Turki Al Said, Governor of Dhofar; Honourable Salim Qatan; Vice Chairperson of the State Council; His Excellency Dr. Saleh Masn, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion; His Excellency Dr. Khalid Al-Saidi, Chairman of the Oman-China Friendship Association; Mr. Hatim Al-Taie, Secretary General of the Forum, Editor-in-Chief of Al Roya Newspaper; Sheikh Naif Fadhil, Chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry - Dhofar Governorate; Members of the State Council and Shura Council; Officials from government departments, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, Investment Authority, Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority; Walis of Salalah and other Wilayats in Dhofar; Representatives of Chinese and Omani enterprises, friends from academics, cultural figures, and media of two countries.
His Excellency Dr. Saleh Masn, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, highlighted Oman’s achievements in economic diversification, stating that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a pivotal global platform for enhancing trade connectivity, logistics synergy, and civilizational exchange. He emphasized Oman’s role as a key BRI hub bridging East and West, noting substantial progress in bilateral cooperation under the initiative. He called for deeper alignment between Oman Vision 2040 and the BRI, particularly in infrastructure, renewable energy, and technology.
His Excellency Dr. Khalid Al-Saidi, Chairman of the Oman-China Friendship Association, proposed elevating bilateral ties from "cooperation" to "integration" and shifting from "exchange" to "co-creation." He stressed that people-to-people bonds underpin strategic trust and pledged the association’s continued role as a bridge for cultural exchanges. Noting the strong synergy between Oman Vision 2040, the BRI, and Chinese modernization, he highlighted vast potential in renewable energy, smart cities, and civilizational dialogue, advocating for sister-city partnerships to deepen ties.
Mr. Hatim Al-Taie, Editor-in-Chief of Al Roya Newspaper, remarked that China-Oman friendship is rooted in history and future-oriented. While Oman Vision 2040 and Chinese modernization follow different paths, they share the same goals of sustainable development, talent cultivation, and innovation. He urged enhanced dialogue and leveraging the forum’s platform for deeper engagement across sectors.
Sheikh Naif Hamed Fadhil, Chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry - Dhofar Governorate, proposed strengthening energy, green economy, high-tech, and personnel exchanges. He urged translating forum outcomes into sustainable partnerships and implementing more practical projects to boost both economies.
The forum featured three panel discussions: Chinese Modernization and Oman Vision 2040, Energy Cooperation, and Technology Innovation and Cooperation. Government officials and business representatives explored Oman’s development strategies, investment incentives, Chinese enterprises’ strengths, and collaborative opportunities, sparking dynamic exchanges. Undersecretary Saleh held talks with Chinese companies, while B2B matchmaking sessions were conducted. Key discussions focused on renewable energy, manufacturing, tech innovation, and infrastructure, with Omani officials addressing queries on investment policies.
During the forum, H.H. Sayyid Marwan and Ambassador Lyu visited Chinese corporate booths to learn about their products, advantages, and operations in Oman. Participants widely praised the forum for its practicality, noting it deepened mutual understanding, generated actionable recommendations, and should catalyze faster implementation of cooperation.
Originally named the China-Oman Friendship Forum, the forum has been renamed the China-Oman Friendship and Cooperation Forum, to emphasize tangible collaboration. Serving as a dialogue platform for businesses and government agencies, it facilitated direct engagement and delivered concrete outcomes, earning high acclaim and record attendance. The forum is poised to become a long-term mechanism for deepening and accelerating China-Oman practical cooperation.