Muscat, Dec. 07, 2021, SPA -- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman today issued a joint statement at the conclusion of the state visit of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense to the Sultanate of Oman. Following is the text of the statement: Based on the deep historical and fraternally ties that unite the leaderships of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman, as well as their two peoples, and in order to strengthen the close bilateral relations between them, and based on the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, paid a state visit to the Sultanate of Oman on Monday and Tuesday, December 6-7, 2021. A session of talks was held between His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of the Sultanate of Oman and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, during which they reviewed prospects for joint cooperation and ways of developing them in various fields. They praised the cooperation and coordination achieved in the political, economic, military and security fields for the interest of the two countries and the two peoples. The two sides also hailed the positive and fruitful results achieved during the historic visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in July 2021 to expand the scope of their bilateral relations, including the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the Saudi-Omani Coordination Council, which will contribute to achieving integration. The goal is in all fields to serve the common interests of the two countries. They affirmed their determination to enhance the pace of joint economic cooperation by stimulating the government and private sectors to reach qualitative trade and investment exchanges that serve the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and Sultanate of Oman's 2040 Vision, and promote opportunities for partnership between the private sector in the two countries. In this context, the two sides welcomed the announcement of the opening of the 725-km Saudi-Omani road, which will contribute to the smooth movement of citizens of the two countries and the integration of supply chains in order to achieve the desired economic integration between the two countries. They also welcomed the launch of the two Saudi and Omani ports. Regarding cooperation in the field of energy and climate change, the two sides commended the efforts of the OPEC Plus member states, led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the participation of the Sultanate of Oman, which led to the stability and balance of oil markets. They also stressed the importance of continuing this cooperation and the need for all participating countries to adhere to the OPEC Plus agreement. The two sides also stressed the study of cooperation in joint opportunities in the field of oil, gas and petrochemical sector, strengthening cooperation in the field of petroleum products trade between the two countries, cooperation in the fields of renewable energy and its technologies, commercial exchange of electric energy, benefiting from the electrical connection, and maximizing the benefit of local content and national capabilities in energy sector projects. In the field of climate change, the Omani side valued the efforts and initiatives of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in confronting the phenomenon of climate change, the most important of which is the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative launched by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. The two sides agreed to cooperate in the field of energy and climate change and work jointly within the framework of the Middle East Green Initiative in a way that enhances the benefits and gains at the local, regional and global levels. They also welcomed strengthening of cooperation on the implementation of the circular carbon economy approach launched by the Kingdom during its presidency of G20, approved by the Group of Twenty as an integrated and comprehensive framework for addressing the challenges arising from greenhouse gas emissions and managing them through available technologies, as an approach that represents an economically sustainable way to manage emissions. On cooperation in the field of trade and investment, the two sides agreed to increase the facilities that contribute to the smooth flow of intra-regional trade, enhance cooperation in the field of food security, and invest opportunities in the sectors of standardization, health, pharmaceutical industries, advanced technologies and innovation, renewable energy and industrial projects, tourism projects, petrochemical projects, manufacturing industries and logistics partnership as well as financial technology so as to achieve common benefits for the two countries. The Omani side welcomed the goal set by the Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to invest USD$five billion in the Sultanate of Oman. Two memoranda of understanding were signed in the commercial and standardization fields. The two sides expressed their satisfaction with the results of the 3rd meeting of the Saudi-Omani Business Council and the Economic Forum held on its sidelines. A group of leading Saudi and Omani companies also signed a number of memoranda of understanding such as the Memoranda of Understanding between Aramco Trading Company (ATC) with Okio; SABIC Petrochemical Company with Okio; the Shipping Company with Oman International Logistics Group (ASYAD); ACWA Power Company with Okio; Ma'aden with Oman Minerals Development Company and Saudi Tadawul Group with Muscat Stock Exchange. On cooperation in the field of media, the two countries affirmed their keenness to raise the level of cooperation between them and welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding in the field of radio and television; a memorandum of understanding in the exchange of news between the Saudi Press Agency and Omani News Agency and a memorandum of understanding in the field of audio-visual and print media. They also welcomed the meeting of the Saudi Journalists Association and Omani Journalists Association and its results that have been achieved to enhance joint media work. On cooperation in the field of tourism, the two sides expressed their determination to enhance and develop joint work in the tourism sector due to its importance in increasing the GDP’s growth, creating job opportunities for citizens and diversifying sources of income. Regarding the political affairs, the two sides affirmed the contents of Al-Ula Declaration issued on January 5, 2021, which stipulated the implementation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud’s vision which was approved by the Supreme Council at its 36th session in December 2015. The Supreme Council assigned the bodies, councils, ministerial and technical committees as well as the Secretariat General and all the council’s organs to redouble efforts to complete the remaining steps according to a specific timetable, including completing the elements of economic unity within the framework of the GCC and the joint defense and security systems, and formulating a unified and effective foreign policy for the council in order to maintain its interests and gains, to avoid regional and international conflicts and meet aspirations of the GCC citizens. The two sides exchanged views on issues of common interest at the regional and international arenas, affirming their coordination with regard to their stances in order to serve their interests and enhance security and stability in the region and the world. The two sides affirmed their support for all efforts aimed at achieving peace in the Middle East, referring to the importance of reaching a comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant international legitimacy resolutions that guarantee the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on the 1967 parallel, with East Al-Quds as its capital. Concerning Yemeni issue, the two sides agreed to continue their efforts to find a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis, based on the Gulf initiative and its executive mechanism, the outcomes of the Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference, UN Security Council Resolution No. (2216), and the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to end the Yemeni crisis, particularly the human suffering of the brotherly Yemeni people. The two sides welcomed the success of the electoral process in Iraq, and expressed their wishes for the formation of an Iraqi government that will continue to work for the security, stability and development of Iraq. The two sides also welcomed the understandings reached by the parties to the transitional phase in Sudan, and affirmed their continued support for everything that would achieve security and stability in Sudan, wishing the country and its brotherly people stability and prosperity. With regard to the Lebanese issue, the two sides stressed the importance of carrying out comprehensive reforms to ensure that Lebanon overcomes its crises, and that Lebanon will not be a launching pad for any terrorist or criminal acts that destabilize the security and stability of the region. They also stressed the importance of reaching political solutions to the Syrian and Libyan crises in a way that ends the human suffering of the Syrian and Libyan peoples and preserves the unity and integrity of their territories. On Afghanistan, the two sides stressed the need to support security and stability in Afghanistan, not allow the existence of safe havens for terrorists and extremists in it and any acts aimed at recruiting the Afghan refugees in the various conflict areas. The two sides expressed the importance of supporting the relief efforts and humanitarian work in Afghanistan. In this regard, the Omani side appreciated the Kingdom’s invitation to an extraordinary ministerial meeting for OIC member states to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, scheduled to be held in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on 19/12/2021. They also stressed the importance of cooperation and dealing seriously and effectively with Iran's nuclear and missile file with all its components and repercussions in a way that contributes to achieving regional and international security and stability, affirming the principles of good neighborliness and respect for the UN and international legitimacy resolutions, and sparing the region from all destabilizing activities. At the conclusion of the visit, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud expressed his great thanks to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of the Sultanate of Oman for the warm reception and generous hospitality accorded to him and the accompanying delegation. Sultan Haitham bin Tariq also wished the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud continuous health and happiness and the Saudi people steady progress and prosperity. Issued in Muscat on 7/12/2021. --SPA 22:14 LOCAL TIME 19:14 GMT 0047 www.spa.gov.sa/w1661737