Under the leadership of H.E. Mohsen bin Hamad Al-Hadrami, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, the delegation of the Sultanate of Oman continues a working visit, involving representatives from the Oman Investment Authority and the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ). After successfully concluding their working visit to the Republic of South Korea, the delegation proceeded to the People's Republic of China. The purpose of this tour is to bolster the Sultanate of Oman's endeavors, led by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, in the fields of renewable energy investments, green hydrogen, oil, gas, and minerals. The delegation takes part in a series of meetings and discussions with government officials and high-ranking company representatives in order to explore opportunities and foster partnerships and cooperation in these countries. The tour will subsequently culminate with a visit to the Kingdom of Malaysia.                                             
During the meeting, H.E. the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals met the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), a governing body responsible for foreign government investments. The focus of the meeting revolved around exploring opportunities to strengthen cooperation and establish economic partnerships in the energy and mineral sectors. The primary objective was to attract Chinese companies that possess the expertise and advanced technology in the energy and mineral industries to invest in the Sultanate of Oman. The Commission expressed its support for this initiative, aiming to increase the involvement of Chinese companies in Oman's oil production. During the meeting, the Commission acknowledged the significance of the upcoming 10th Arab - China Business Conference, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia next month. The head of the delegation further deliberated on bilateral meetings with prominent private sector companies, notably CNPC and CNOOC, for the possibility of their participation in exploration, production, and refineries in the oil and gas sectors, particularly in some offshore and onshore concession areas.
Additionally, the delegation was engaged in discussions concerning the localization of industries related to renewable energy and green hydrogen. Specifically, they explored the means for potential collaboration with Chinese companies concerning the manufacturing of wind turbines and energy storage batteries. Furthermore, the delegation emphasized the importance of harnessing local mineral resources such as silica, copper, and lithium. This utilization is expected to have a positive impact on the development of the energy and metals industries, as well as the maximization of local value-added contributions.
   Dr. Salah bin Hafeez Al-Dhahab, Director General of Investment at the Ministry, stated the following: "Through our visit to the People's Republic of China and various discussions with Chinese companies, we aim to conclude agreements for the development of open oil concession areas and the acquisition of technology related to enhanced extraction and the development of heavy oil with a view to exploring these opportunities. Moreover, it is crucial to focus on the ongoing investment in renewable energy and hydrogen projects. China National Offshore Oil Corporation has displayed a keen interest in hydrogen supply areas in the upcoming rounds. Furthermore, a Chinese company has expressed its intention to establish a strategic partnership with the Sultanate of Oman, encompassing the entire oil and gas sector, in order to collaborate on integrated projects with Omani institutions. In a different context, an energy financing company has demonstrated interest in investing in green metals within the Sultanate.”

 It is noteworthy that the People's Republic of China is a major importer of Oman's crude oil, accounting for more than 80% of the country's total crude oil production.