Muscat: The second round of strategic dialogue between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Singapore commenced in Muscat today. The Omani delegation was led by Sayyid Badr Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister, and Maj. Gen. Idris Abdulrahman Al Kindi, Secretary-General of the National Security Council. The Singaporean delegation was led by K. Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Law, along with Dr. Mohamad Maliki Osman, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore.
According to Oman News Agency, both parties acknowledged the progress achieved in previous years and expressed their commitment to leveraging these accomplishments to foster joint cooperation. The discussions focused on mutual interests, particularly in areas such as advanced technology, renewable energy, food and water security, digital economy, maritime security, and cybersecurity.
The dialogue emphasized the importance of innovation and support for collaborative projects, especially in green hydrogen and solar energy sectors. The representatives explored potential advancements in artificial intelligence and sustainable smart city applications.
Regional and international developments were also reviewed, highlighting the need for enhanced dialogue and diplomacy as tools for achieving security and stability. The participants emphasized the importance of coordinating their positions on global issues and shared challenges.
Concluding the meeting, both sides reaffirmed the significance of maintaining strategic dialogue as a vital mechanism for political and security coordination, as well as for pursuing economic and technical cooperation. They recognized the critical role of public and private sector partnerships in achieving sustainable development goals and expressed interest in fostering cultural communication to strengthen friendly relations and identify further opportunities for joint cooperation programs that align with the countries' mutual objectives.
The Oman-Singapore strategic dialogue is part of the broader initiative to capitalize on the outcomes of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik's visit to Singapore in December 2023, marking a new phase in bilateral cooperation.