Joint efforts needed for regional prosperity, says Oman official
Manama : A collaborative effort is required to build dialogue for regional prosperity and growth, Secretary-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi said yesterday.
He was speaking on ‘Evolving International Partnerships in the Middle East,’ at the third plenary session of the ‘Manama Dialogue’ being held here.
Taro Kono, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Japan, M J Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs, India also addressed the delegates.
All stressed on the importance of a joint effort required to evolve partnerships in the Middle East.
“There is a long history of trade and cultural exchange in the Middle East around Indian ocean; Omanis have always looked East and engaged with neighbours far and near,” Al Busaidi said.
“In the past few decades, Oman has been actively participating in economic dynamism of region that is shaped by rapid growth and diversification in numerous Asian countries and economies. What we are witnessing today brings the exchange to a new level and would reflect on the importance of the global significance of the economic infrastructure, the development that is currently underway,” Al Busaidi said.
“Previously the Middle Eat nations used to act as links between the Asian and European Nations, but now instead of acting as links, Oman and the rest of the GCC countries have become an active participant in contributing to shaping this economic structure,” Al Busaidi said.
“From Omani perspective, this represents a revival of historical focus on the Indian Ocean region. Headline investment such as all the transport, energy and industry projects, for example, the China Pakistan economic corridor are examples of this development but there are similar actives that are contributing to the reshaping of this regional environment exchange,” Al Busaidi said.
“Oman is a founding member in a partnership of Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, recently joined by Qatar for the development of a trade and transit corridor and various other associated economic activities,” Al Busaidi said. “Further, from Omani perspective one of the most important areas is port development, we are very excited of the potential development of the port that is likely to reduce the transit time, costs and an overall increase in the medium of trade. Our engagement with China does not mean looser ties with other nations, we have always taken an inclusive view on international relations and Oman believes that a collaborative effort is required to put more effort into building dialogue for regional prosperity,” he added.
M J Akbar emphasised that there is a need to find shared approaches to prosperity, while partnerships and cooperation are needed.
“Japan will promote co-existence in Middle East societies and will help heal scars left by violent extremists such as ISIS. Further, achieving Middle East stability is in turn vital to Indo-Pacific stability and prosperity, for access to energy resources and freedom of access to key waterways,” said Taro Kono. “North Korea is “unprecedented, grave and an immediate threat and thus he called for international cooperation to deal with an issue,” he said.
“True to its name, this session was about partnerships. One might have expected the ministers of India and Japan to talk about balancing China, but instead, their messages were ones of cooperation. Geo-economics in the most positive sense,” said Mark Fitzpatrick, Executive Director, IISS-Americas.
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