Oman's sultan makes first state visit to China as Hormuz crisis drags on

Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman arrived in Beijing on Sunday evening for a two-day state visit, the first to China by an Omani head of state since the two countries established diplomatic relations 48 years ago, according to China's foreign ministry. President Xi Jinping is due to host an official welcome at the Great Hall of the People on Monday, the Times of Oman reported, and the two leaders will hold talks; the sultan will also meet Premier Li Qiang.

He was received at Beijing Capital International Airport by Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People's Bank of China, the Times of Oman said. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on 30 October that Beijing hoped to take China's strategic partnership with Oman "to new heights".

Oman is China's fifth-largest crude oil supplier, Anadolu Agency reported. Oman's ambassador in Beijing has named energy, green hydrogen, ports, logistics and artificial intelligence among the priorities.

The visit matters beyond trade. Oman's Musandam peninsula sits on the Strait of Hormuz opposite Iran, and Tehran has named recognition of shipping routes designated by Iran and Oman among its conditions for reopening the strait, according to Al Jazeera. Neither side has said whether Hormuz or the US-Iran talks are on the agenda in Beijing. Oman is also one of India's closest partners in the Gulf, and the strait carries a large share of India's oil and gas imports.