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Oman and Belarus agree to strengthen partnership

Oman and Belarus agree to strengthen partnership

Observer19-05-2025

MINSK: President Alexander Lukashenko of the Republic of Belarus on Monday received HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, at the Presidential Palace in the Belarusian capital, Minsk.
During the meeting, HH Sayyid Theyazin conveyed the greetings of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the Belarusian President, along with His Majesty's best wishes of success to accomplish further achievements for the friendly people of Belarus and realise all their aspirations for a stable and prosperous life across all fields.
On his turn, the President of Belarus asked HH Sayyid Theyazin to conveying his greetings to His Majesty the Sultan, wishing His Majesty good health and happiness. President Lukashenko also wished the Omani people further progress and prosperity. The President of Belarus lauded the outcomes of his visit to the Sultanate of Oman and the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to him. He underlined the commitment to enhancing cooperation in several areas, particularly in economic, investment and trade sectors, to achieve mutual benefits that bolster both nations' economies.
The meeting reviewed the progress made in bilateral cooperation and partnership, along with ongoing efforts in this regard, while also exploring ways to expand collaboration and investment opportunities to serve mutual interests.
HH Sayyid Theyazin expressed his profound pleasure at the growth and advancement of cooperative relations between the two countries across multiple sectors, expressing hope that all efforts to strengthen this partnership would be met with continued success and steady progress.
The meeting was attended by Abdulsalam bin Mohammed al Murshidi, Chairman of Oman Investment Authority, along with several Belarusian officials. - ONA

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