Oman, New Zealand upgrade co-operation

Mon, 15 April 2013

MUSCAT — The Sultanate and New Zealand agreed to upgrade political dialogue and economic co-operation during talks the two sides held at the Council of Ministers here yesterday. The Omani side at the talks was led by His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmood al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, while Lt Gen Sir Jerry Mateparae, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of New Zealand, headed his country’s delegation.

The two sides agreed to promote political dialogue on regional and international issues and encourage investment in each other’s countries in a variety of areas, including tourism, agriculture, fisheries, oil exploration, minerals and a number of sectors. Oman and New Zealand also agreed to establish partnership in the fields of education, health, research, training and culture.

They stressed the importance of exchanging visits of experts and hold direct talks to enhance ongoing co-operation. Lt Gen Sir Jerry Mateparae said he was delighted to visit the Sultanate and meet His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. He commended the outcome of his meeting with His Majesty the Sultan, noting that it fostered existing friendship and highlight a number of domains of specific significance to bilateral co-operation.

In turn, HH Sayyid Fahd affirmed the Sultanate’s keenness to extend bridges of co-operation to friendly countries. He pointed out that the Sultanate’s relations with New Zealand embody a joint desire for fruitful co-operation that will serve future needs of both countries. The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries will visit New Zealand later this month. The visit will focus on co-operation in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, livestock and food security.

The talks were attended on the Omani side by the Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Higher Education, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Minister of Tourism (Head of the Mission ofHonour accompanying the guest), the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, Assistant Secretary -General for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, OCCI Chairman and the Sultanate’s ambassador to Japan and Non-Resident ambassador to New Zealand whilst it was attended from the New Zealand side by the New Zealand’s ambassador to the Sultanate, the Honorary Consul General to New Zealand, the Official Secretary of the Governor General, Deputy Chairman of the Commission at the New Zealand Embassy, the Military Aid from the New Zealand Navy Forces, the Foreign Policy in-Charge at Middle East and Africa Administration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Political Advisor at the New Zealand Embassy. — ONA