Manama, Bahrain today welcomes His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Sultan of Oman, on a two-day official visit in response to an invitation from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
This is the first visit by HM the Sultan to Bahrain since he succeeded the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said in January 2020.
Sultan Haitham’s visit builds on the solid relations that bind the two countries and strengthens the bonds of brotherhood, ties, kinship and love that unite their peoples.
HM Sultan Haitham assumed the rule on January 11, 2020 in a continuation of the nation-building process in Oman launched by his predecessor, the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, 50 years ago. The smooth transition between the two rules commanded admiration and earned respect across the world.
In his first address, Sultan Haitham laid out a road map for the approach he will adopt during his rule and stressed that he will follow the steps of the late Sultan with steadfastness and determination to ensure a brighter future that builds on past accomplishments.
He also stressed the preservation of the principles and concepts established by Sultan Qaboos with regard to the Sultanate’s foreign policy based on peaceful coexistence among nations and peoples, good neighborliness, non-interference in the internal affairs of others and respect for the sovereignty of states.
Over the course of the two years since that address, Sultan Haitham has launched a package of economic reforms and extensive government administrative adjustments that contributed to using resources and energies and resources to complete the development process in Oman.
As a reflection of the comprehensive development in accordance with the Sultanate’s 2040 vision with regard to diplomacy, the Bahraini-Omani cooperation succeeded to open wider prospects for peace and development in the entire Gulf region, including boosting cooperation and mutual investments.
Our region is on the cusp of a new phase of construction and development to complement the ambitious visions of both countries, represented by the Bahrain 2030 vision and Oman 2040 vision.
They aim to achieve the sustainable development goals and to address the global economic crises caused by the onslaught of the oil decline and the repercussions of the Corona pandemic.
They also seek to activate national plans to attract investments, diversify non-oil sources of income, modernize the government action, accord greater attention to the transition to the digital future in all its tracks, and participate in international efforts to develop solutions to the threats of climate changes and reach zero carbon neutrality.
Relations between Bahrain and Oman, in their official and popular forms, took on development and growth during the reign of the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said since 1970.
The two countries established the Bahraini-Omani Joint Ministerial Committee in 1992 and the Joint Business Council between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the two countries. They signed several agreements and various memoranda of understanding during mutual visits of leaders and senior officials.
The Bahrain-Oman Friendship Society was announced last September in a move that reflected the two sides’ keenness to enhance cooperation and bilateral work, boost economic relations, and stimulate and widen the exchange of investments in a manner that meets the common aspirations of the two leaderships and peoples.
To bolster cooperation and integration in scientific fields and joint academic research, Oman was keen to establish His Majesty Sultan Qaboos’ Chair for Desert Agriculture at the Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain in 1994, which reflects keenness to achieve a contemporary global community living in peace and guided by mutual understanding and tolerance in the light of globalization.
Oman’s domestic and foreign policies have always been characterized by political and economic stability and the adoption of wisdom and balance in relations with all countries.
Sultan Qaboos’ contributions to the establishment of the Gulf Cooperation Council had great effects in consolidating its progress. They were a major factor of strength and a great addition to joint Gulf and Arab action and to protecting the capacities and achievements of the Gulf and Arab peoples.
Mutual visits between Manama and Muscat at all levels and in a continuous manner have mirrored the nature of the relations between the two countries, leadership and people.
The official visit by HM King Hamad to Oman in March 2000 reflected the historical depth of the ties between the two countries. Several agreements and memoranda of understanding, including facilitating the movement of citizens of the two countries and the agreement on diplomatic and consular cooperation, were signed.
The late Sultan Qaboos visited Bahrain in September 200 and invited HM the King to attend the Gulf Summit hosted by Oman in December.
The visit of Sultan Qaboos to Bahrain in June 2010 was the last by the late Sultan, but it was not the last by senior officials in the two countries keen on stronger cooperation and greater integration among GCC countries and on cloer joint Arab action.
The history that brought together the two countries thousands of years ago cannot be overlooked, as Bahrain at that time was the cradle of the ancient “Dilmun” civilization, while the ancient “Majan” civilization arose in Oman.
Both were historical civilizations that had a great effect in shaping the history of the region in the Arabian Peninsula and also on other civilizations in neighboring countries – Iraq, the Levant, and Egypt, all the way to India.
This long history, geographical and cultural proximity, and the surrounding political circumstances at the time resulted in a determination to establish the roots of human and social ties and relations that brought together the people of Dilmun and Majan.
The people of Bahrain and Oman have worked to enhance their mutual economic cooperation, especially in the field of trade across the sea, and the exchange of goods and traditional industries that arose in both civilizations, such as the shipbuilding and copper industry for which Majan was famous, and the pearl industry, pottery, jewelry and weaving that were famous characteristics of Dilmun.
These relations, deep-rooted in history, continue to grow in the present time based on the common denominators that include geography, history, religion, kinship, culture, and trade.
Today, Bahrain and Oman, stand proud witnesses to the civilizational and human achievements and gains that have been accomplished thanks to the wisdom of their leaderships and their deep commitment to strengthening the process of cooperation and development.
Source: Bahrain News Agency