Sayyid Badr holds bilateral meetings during 8th Indian Ocean Conference

Muscat: Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister, held a series of bilateral meetings on Sunday with a number of his counterparts and officials from countries and regional and international organisations.

The meetings aimed to enhance joint cooperation and discuss issues of common interest. The meetings took place on the sidelines of the 8th Indian Ocean Conference, hosted by the Sultanate of Oman.

The meetings included Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India, Osman Saleh Mohammed, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Eritrea, Jassim bin Mohammed Al Budaiwi, GCC Secretary General, Hassan Ali Joho, Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs of the Republic of Kenya, Zhai Jun, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government to the Middle East, Dr. Erywan Yusof, Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam, Dhananjay Ramful, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and National Trade of the Republic of Mauritius and Youssef Mohamed Ali, Director of the Office of the President of the Union of the Comoros, Acting Minister of Defense.

The meetings addressed ways to enhance bilateral relations and cooperation in various spheres, including the blue economy, trade, energy, tourism and education, in addition to sustainable development and youth empowerment. Investment opportunities and strengthening economic partnerships were also discussed, with emphasis laid on the importance of developing infrastructure and facilitating cooperation between the public and private sectors.

The Foreign Minister also discussed with his counterparts the regional and international challenges facing the Indian Ocean region, including maritime security, climate change and joint efforts to enhance regional stability. The meetings underscored the importance of dialogue and diplomacy as a means to enhance cooperation and resolve issues of common interest.

During the meetings, Sayyid Badr stressed the Sultanate of Oman's keenness to boost cooperation with various countries and regional and international partners, in a manner that contributes to achieving sustainable development, enhancing stability and opening new horizons for cooperation in a way that serves the common interests of all parties.