Saudi newspapers highlighted in their editorials today a number of issues at local, regional and international arenas. Al-Riyadh, Al-Bilad and Al-Yaum newspapers reported in their editorials that the meeting of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud with Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of the Sultanate of Oman represents an ambitious stage of the strategic relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman. On Sunday, July 11, 2021, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques received at NEOM Palace Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of the Sultanate of Oman. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques welcomed the Sultan and his accompanying delegation, while the Sultan of Oman expressed happiness to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and meet with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Then, the two leaders, in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, held a session of official talks. They reviewed the historical deep-rooted relations between the two countries, and discussed aspects of joint cooperation and ways to enhance and develop them in various fields. The newspapers added that the the Sultan's visit to Saudi Arabia is of great importance since it is his first foreign visit since taking office in January 2020, reiterating the status of the Kingdom and its leadership at the political and popular level in Oman, matched by the appreciation and respect of the leadership and people of the Kingdom to the Omani people and leadership. Additionally, the Saudi-Omani relations have been featured by cooperation and mutual respect and understanding on various regional and international issues. The newspapers further added that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman work on strengthening economic ties and joint cooperation in the field of trade, in addition to taking advantage of the available investment opportunities in order to serve Saudi Vision 2030 and Oman Vision 2040. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Sultan of the Sultanate of Oman witnessed also on Sunday, in the presence of HRH the Crown Prince, the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding on establishing the Saudi-Omani Coordination Council. The signing of the MoU stems from the two countries' keenness for consultation and coordination on matters of common concern, the newspapers noted. As for the economic side, the two countries seek to promote and strengthen cooperation in this sector. Saudi Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi pointed out, in a recent statement, that reciprocal visits of top-level officials express the serious will to strengthen endeavors and build strategic and strong partnerships in various fields to best serve the two countries and peoples. The two countries anticipate to raise the volume of their bilateral trade exchange, as it reached over SAR 58.6 billion during the past six years (2015-2020), he added. The Saudi-Omani relations ushered in a new era of wider prosperity and expanded cooperation. The outcomes of this important visit will give impetus to the bilateral relations and it will constitute a new starting point for establishing a more prosperous future for the peoples of the two countries. The two countries will deepen cooperation, especially with the development of the logistics sector between them, which will achieve positive growth on the economies of the two countries, the newspapers concluded.
