His Majesty Sultan Qaboos received at Bait al Baraka yesterday King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Honorary Chairman of the World Scout Foundation (WSF). His Majesty the Sultan and King Gustaf discussed co-operation between the Sultanate and the WSF, particularly the organisation’s role in supporting environment awareness. The meeting was attended by Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki, Minister of National Economy and Supervisor of the Ministry of Finance, Mohammed bin Al Zubair, Adviser to His Majesty the Sultan for Economic Planning Affairs, Dr Omar bin Abdulmunim al Zawawi, Special Adviser to His Majesty the Sultan for External Liaison, Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Minister of Commerce and Industry, and the delegation accompanying the guest.

A statement issued on the occasion of the visit of King Carl Gustaf to the Sultanate underscored the attention accorded to environment conservation by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos and the King. The statement reads as follows: “His Majesty Sultan Qaboos and King Carl XVI of Sweden and Honorary Chairman of the World Scout Foundation, have called upon members of the International Scout Movement to enhance efforts to spread public awareness with a view to reinforcing positive conduct at an international level among youths of the world. “Boys and girls are urged to participate in activities like landscaping for the sake of sustainable development.

As recycling of waste is needed in today’s world now more than ever before, they are urged to participate in practical projects at a local level to increase ‘the green space’ through landscaping.” His Majesty Sultan Qaboos hailed the performance of boys and girls in the global scout movement in 160 countries around the world, for promoting peace and understanding within the context of the international programmes of “Grants of Peace” and “Cultural Education of Children”.

The organisation, over the past 100 years since its inception, succeeded to a great extent in serving societies and educating young people in tackling common issues. In a symbolic gesture of the commitment of His Majesty the Sultan and King Gustaf to environment conservation, the two leaders planted a date palm sapling at Al Naseem Park in the Wilayat of Barka. King Gustaf earlier visited the Scout and Girl Guides Complex which was set up under the Royal directives and support of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, the Chief Scout of the Sultanate.