HM and Spanish Prime Minister hold bilateral talks in Madrid

Madrid: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and His Excellency Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Spain, held a bilateral meeting at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid on Wednesday as part of His Majesty’s ongoing state visit to Spain. The talks focused on strengthening the historic relations between the two friendly nations and exploring new avenues of cooperation across political, economic, and cultural spheres.

During the meeting, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing bilateral ties in a manner that brings greater benefits to the peoples of Oman and Spain. They also exchanged views on key regional and international developments and discussed issues of mutual concern, underscoring the importance of continued dialogue and coordination in supporting peace and stability around the world.

Following the bilateral session, an expanded round of official talks was held, during which His Majesty Sultan Haitham delivered a speech highlighting the depth of Omani-Spanish relations and their promising future. His Majesty expressed satisfaction with the growth of trade and investment relations between the two countries, reflected through the operations of the first and second Omani-Spanish investment funds, which aim to explore new opportunities across multiple sectors.

His Majesty pointed to the growing cooperation between Oman and Spain in fields such as food security, clean energy, infrastructure, healthcare, and sustainable tourism, in addition to thriving partnerships between academic and educational institutions, which have benefited many Omani students studying in Spanish universities.

Emphasising Oman’s readiness to expand cooperation in the green energy sector, His Majesty said that the Sultanate looks forward to strengthening its partnership with Spain in green hydrogen projects, benefiting from Spain’s expertise in the field and aligning with Oman Vision 2040, which aims to diversify the economy and transition toward a sustainable green economy.

His Majesty also commended Spain’s growing interest in investment opportunities in Oman, particularly in the logistics, industrial, and tourism sectors, expressing optimism that both countries’ private sectors would continue to build stronger partnerships.

On the international front, His Majesty reaffirmed Oman’s support for dialogue and global understanding, stressing the importance of coordinated efforts to promote peace and stability worldwide.

His Majesty Sultan Haitham further expressed deep appreciation for Spain’s principled stance on the Palestinian cause, praising the Spanish government’s decision to recognise the State of Palestine, which he described as a reflection of Spain’s moral and humanitarian commitment to justice. His Majesty also extended thanks to Prime Minister Sánchez for his government’s continued support of the Palestinian people and for condemning the ongoing violations in Gaza and the West Bank.

In conclusion, His Majesty expressed hope that this meeting would yield tangible outcomes that strengthen economic relations and open new horizons for partnership and integration between the two friendly nations.

For his part, Prime Minister Sánchez welcomed His Majesty the Sultan and the accompanying delegation, expressing Spain’s keenness to launch a new phase of economic, investment, cultural, and technical cooperation with the Sultanate of Oman.

The session also witnessed discussions on joint cooperation tracks, culminating in the signing of one agreement and six memoranda of understanding between the two countries at the Moncloa Palace, marking another milestone in the growing Omani-Spanish partnership.

Earlier on Tuesday evening, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik met King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, where they discussed ways to enhance cooperation and reviewed regional and international developments. His Majesty was received with an official ceremony at the Royal Palace earlier during this historic state visit to Spain.