The Sultanate and China yesterday held their 4th session of strategic consultations at the Chinese Foreign Ministry. The Omani side was led by Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud al Busaidy, Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry, and the Chinese side by the Chinese assistant foreign minister. The consultations covered ways to follow up the implementation of frameworks of co-operation, particularly in investment, commercial, economic, cultural and media fields.

The two sides exchanged views on a number of political, economic and humanitarian issues. They stressed the importance of supporting all efforts aimed at achieving peace, security and economic prosperity. As part of the session, the two sides signed an agreement for mutual exemption of holders of diplomatic and special mission passports from visas. During his visit to China, Sayyid Badr met with the Chinese foreign minister with whom he discussed regional and international issues of common concern.

They stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation and exchanging expertise in areas of common interest. Sayyid Badr also met with the Chinese deputy culture minister and they discussed means of enhancing co-operation in cultural domains. The two sides then signed an Executive Programme for the Cultural, Health and Media between the governments of Oman and China. The meetings and pact signing ceremonies were attended by Shaikh Abdullah bin Saleh bin Hilal al Saadi, the Sultanate's Ambassador to China, and the delegation accompanying Sayyid Badr