Moscow: Ambassador Hamoud Salim Al Tuwaih, representing the Sultanate of Oman in the Russian Federation, and serving as Oman's non-resident Ambassador to Belarus, has confirmed the development of robust relations and cooperative efforts between the Sultanate of Oman and Belarus across various sectors.
In a statement to the Oman News Agency (ONA), Ambassador Al Tuwaih highlighted the significance of the visit by Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko of the Republic of Belarus to Oman. He emphasized that this visit presents a pivotal opportunity to fortify bilateral ties, foster collaboration, and share expertise in areas such as economy, trade, culture, education, and investments.
Furthermore, Ambassador Al Tuwaih noted that the visit by the Belarus Prime Minister has set the stage for further expansion of bilateral cooperation. He stated, "The visit will lay the groundwork for realizing the aspirations of the peoples of both countries. It is in line with the progress made by the two nations over the past years."
He further elaborated on the existing agreements between the two countries, including the Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Investment (ratified on May 10, 2004), the Agreement on Economic and Commercial Cooperation (ratified in 2007), a Memorandum of Understanding for Political Consultations (ratified in 2007), and the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and an agreement on cooperation between the chambers of commerce.
Additionally, Ambassador Al Tuwaih mentioned several other agreements, such as the one on mutual visa cancellation for holders of diplomatic, special, and official passports, and memoranda of understanding between the ministries of foreign affairs, justice, education, and culture. He also highlighted the signing of an air transport agreement between the Governments of the Republic of Belarus and the Sultanate of Oman in July 2023.
Al Tuwaih disclosed that the bilateral relations between Oman and Belarus were formally established on July 23, 1992, during which the President of the Republic of Belarus embarked on an official visit to Oman, during which he was graciously received by the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said.
He emphasized that the diplomatic ties between the two nations continue to flourish, with regular exchanges at the parliamentary and political arenas, accompanied by consistent rounds of political consultations.
Al Tuwaih confirmed that both countries are actively exploring opportunities to enhance their cooperation in various sectors, including economy, trade, commercial exchanges, investments, technology, energy, and alternative energy sources.
The scope of bilateral cooperation extends to education and research, facilitated by the exchange of students and researchers, as well as in areas of innovation, technology, and cultural exchange.
Furthermore, the two nations have collaborated on joint cultural events and initiatives aimed at bolstering the tourism sector, with a focus on increasing investments in this sector.
Al Tuwaih reported to the Oman News Agency (ONA) that there is a current collaboration between the Omani National Museum and Belarusian museums, with an expectation for further expansion in this cooperation. He also mentioned an agreement from 2016 that led to the establishment of a Centre for Arabic Language and Culture within the Minsk State University's premises. This center typically hosts students from the Republic of Belarus for Arabic language studies at Sultan Qaboos University, with plans for students from Belarus to join Sultan Qaboos University in January 2025.
Al Tuwaih further elaborated that, on the 1st of April, 2018, a memorandum of understanding was formally signed in Muscat, focusing on the domains of heritage and culture. He also mentioned that this was in conjunction with another memorandum of understanding, which was executed in March 2018, between the National Museum of Oman and the Natural History Museum of the Republic of Belarus, concerning culture and museum activities.
