London:His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham held a bilateral meeting at 10 Downing Street in London to discuss the course of bilateral relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the United Kingdom, focusing on enhancing them to serve mutual interests.
According to Oman News Agency, the UK Prime Minister welcomed His Majesty the Sultan to Downing Street, marking their first face-to-face meeting during the state visit of Oman. He emphasized the historic ties and collaboration between the two nations, highlighting cooperation in technology, defense, security, and cultural areas. Burnham noted the existing £1.7 billion trade relationship and expressed hope for its expansion. He acknowledged the challenges in the Middle East and praised Oman's efforts to find solutions and facilitate trade through the Strait of Hormuz, reaffirming the UK's support and collaboration.
His Majesty the Sultan expressed gratitude to the UK Prime Minister, underscoring the deep-rooted relations between Oman and the UK. He emphasized the significance of continuing this relationship and expressed hope for future success. His Majesty acknowledged the challenging current situation but highlighted Oman's role in addressing the issues and his expectation for a return to normalcy.
The meeting was followed by an expanded session of talks, chaired by His Majesty the Sultan and the UK Prime Minister. The discussions covered cooperation fields and existing partnerships, aiming to advance and develop them across all sectors to achieve greater progress and prosperity. They also addressed regional and international developments, emphasizing the importance of coordination and international efforts to contain crises and support peace initiatives.
The talks were attended by the official Omani delegation accompanying His Majesty and senior British officials. After the session, His Majesty inscribed a message in the visitors' book, expressing his delight at the visit and wishing for continued progress and growth in the relations between the two countries.