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Observer
03-05-2025
- General
- Observer
Documentary 'Mudirah' builds bridges between Oman, world
Muscat: As part of its ongoing efforts to document cultural exchange and promote national identity, the National Museum launched the documentary 'Mudirah' last week as part of the 'A Story from Oman' series. The event also marked the inauguration of the Oman-Japan relations corner in the 'Oman and the World' gallery, under the auspices of Eng Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals. 'A Story from Oman' is a cultural initiative launched and produced by Aisha Sahar bint Wahid al Kharousiyah, Cultural Adviser at the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Tokyo. The initiative documents inspiring stories of foreign individuals who have lived in Oman and made meaningful contributions to its society. "This initiative aims to build bridges of human appreciation between Oman and the world by presenting stories of individuals who left a lasting legacy in cultural relations," Aisha said. She confirmed that the series would continue in the coming years with more inspiring stories that showcase Oman's spirit of coexistence, openness, and mutual respect. The documentary 'Mudirah' tells the story of Dr Suad bint Mohammed bin Abdullah al Mudhafar, founder of Azzan bin Qais Private School, shedding light on her academic and cultural journey between Japan and Oman and her pioneering efforts in the fields of education and culture. The event also marked the inauguration of the Oman-Japan relations corner in the 'Oman and the World' gallery. Jamal bin Hassan al Moosawi, Secretary-General of the National Museum, stated: "The deep-rooted Omani–Japanese relations extend far into history and continue to thrive today. We are proud at the National Museum to commemorate these ties through the inauguration of a dedicated corner that showcases rare historical artefacts highlighting the richness of this relationship." Among the exhibited items are personal possessions of the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, including a set of Edo-period samurai armour from the noble Ishiko family, believed to date back over 300 years. The corner also displays a Japanese chair gifted to Sultan Turki bin Said in 1880 by Commander Itō of a Japanese naval vessel that docked in Muscat. Hiroshi Serizawa, Ambassador of Japan to the Sultanate of Oman, praised the central figure of the documentary, saying: "I express my deep admiration for Dr Suad al Mudhafar, who appeared in this documentary so generously produced by Aisha. Despite my short time in Oman, I have been deeply impressed by Dr Suad's boundless energy and unwavering dedication." Dr Hanan bint Abdulaziz al Kindi, Executive Director of 'Mudirah', explained the documentary's broader mission, saying: "This initiative is designed to reinforce the civilisational dialogue between Oman and the world while fostering human development by empowering young Omanis to participate in documentary production.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Sleepwalking into cold war': ex-diplomat urges China-Canada dialogue amid outside forces
Former Canadian foreign minister John Baird has cautioned that Western nations, including the United States, have been "sleepwalking into a cold war" with China, a state he described as dangerous. Baird, who served from 2011 to 2015 under former Conservative Party prime minister Stephen Harper, has urged Canadian leaders to actively engage with Beijing in light of increasing uncertainty surrounding relations between Washington and Ottawa. "I do worry that many Western countries, including the United States, were almost sleepwalking into a new cold war, and that is incredibly dangerous and incredibly counterproductive," Baird said in a speech at the Centre on Contemporary China and the World at the University of Hong Kong on Wednesday. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. "Diplomacy is all about working with people you don't necessarily always agree with," Baird said, adding that it was "only through dialogues and a lot of diplomacy" that differences could be bridged. "So, I'm the one who wants to see us [Canada] have a better relationship with China." Baird's speech came amid unprecedented challenges in Ottawa's relationship with its southern neighbour. Tensions between the two long-time allies extend beyond economic issues to security matters, with recent reports suggesting Washington wanted Canada to leave the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network. This claim surfaced after repeated assertions by Donald Trump that Canada should become the "51st state" of the US and the imposition of a 25 per cent tariff - although this has since been temporarily suspended. Baird said the economic impact remained the primary concern for Ottawa. "We [Canada and the US] have an integrated economy, an integrated manufacturing economy, an integrated technology economy, an integrated professional services economy. So this is a huge challenge for Canada," he said. Baird said China would face similar challenges, although to a much lesser extent, and its position in global trade could present a greater threat to America than Canada if Beijing were to retaliate fully. When China was hit with a 10 per cent tariff from Trump's administration this month, Beijing retaliated selectively in key sectors such as minerals, vehicles, science and technology. "I think it's important that we [Canada and China] confront these challenges together ... I think when we work together, we can have more consequential relationships," Baird said. However, despite recognising a shared challenge, relations between Beijing and Ottawa have shown little sign of improvement. The last visit by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Beijing was more than seven years ago. Sino-Canadian relations have deteriorated, particularly after the arrest of Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou by Canadian authorities in 2018 on a US arrest warrant. Soon after, China arrested two Canadians on espionage charges, although Beijing denied that the detentions were retaliatory. The two Canadians, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, were released in 2021 after Meng was freed. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was taken to task by Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Bali. Photo: Handout via Reuters alt=Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was taken to task by Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Bali. Photo: Handout via Reuters> In 2022, at the Group of 20 summit in Bali, President Xi Jinping admonished Trudeau, stating it was "not appropriate" for him to allegedly leak the contents of their closed-door meeting - a probable referencie to reports of Trudeau's concern about alleged Chinese espionage and interference in Canadian elections. Despite the common challenges imposed by Trump, Ottawa has maintained its distance from Beijing. Earlier this month, leaders from Canada's 10 provinces and three territories visited Washington to strengthen ties with the White House, presenting China as a "common economic enemy". Soon after, a Canadian warship conducted a rare transit through the Taiwan Strait, drawing strong condemnation from Beijing. Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory that must be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. Most countries, including Canada, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state. Regarding Ottawa's future approach to China, Baird argued that Canada should shift its policy to promote greater engagement. "We may not agree on a lot, we may have different values, but we have similar interests," he said. "I want to see Iran's nuclear capacity held in check ... I want to see a global response to climate change. You need China to do that ... That's why economic ties can benefit both of our peoples, but only through respectful dialogue." He also emphasised the importance of encouraging more official visits to China to avoid misunderstandings and gain a clearer understanding of the situation there. Trudeau will step down as Liberal Party leader next month and the country is due to hold an election later this year. Former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland and former central banker Mark Carney will fight for the Liberal Party's leadership. Carney was among senior North American business representatives to meet Xi last year. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
