Muscat – Oman highlighted the plight of Palestinians during the 3rd Voice of the Global South Summit, which took place on Saturday under the chairmanship of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The summit saw the participation of several heads of state and government leaders.

Representing Oman, H H Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs and Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan, called on the Global South to adopt “a just and fair stance” in support of the Palestinian people’s rights. He also urged the international community to prioritise the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and establishment of an independent state as essential steps towards peace and stability in the region.

H H Sayyid Asaad, who was assigned by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to participate in the summit, conveyed His Majesty the Sultan’s greetings and best wishes to the Indian government and people. He congratulated India on the occasion of its Independence Day and acknowledged the significance of the summit’s theme, ‘An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future’.

In his speech, H H Sayyid Asaad highlighted the urgency of cooperation in the face of global challenges that threaten security and stability. “Recent years have witnessed political and economic turmoil and armed conflicts, which have increased regional tensions,” he said. “We believe that sustainable solutions to these challenges can only come through dialogue, cooperation and joint action to consolidate the pillars of international peace and security.”

Turning to the Palestinian issue, H H Sayyid Asaad emphasised the long-standing suffering of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation, which began in 1967. He criticised Israel’s violations of United Nations resolutions, international law and human rights standards.

On domestic matters, H H Sayyid Asaad reiterated Oman’s commitment to a diversified and sustainable economy as outlined in Oman Vision 2040. He noted that the sultanate is investing in sectors such as the blue economy, renewable energy and modern technology. Oman aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through integrated renewable energy strategies and improved energy efficiency.

H H Sayyid Asaad also affirmed Oman’s support for the principles of the Global South Summit, stressing the importance of constructive collaboration with partner countries to achieve shared goals of development, security and stability.

The summit addressed a wide range of issues affecting developing countries, with particular focus on the disproportionate impact of climate change on these nations. Discussions centred on developing collaborative solutions for sustainable development, promoting inclusive and environmentally friendly economic growth, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The summit also explored the need for a more equitable global governance structure, one that offers greater representation to developing countries.

Additionally, it emphasised the importance of international cooperation in tackling shared challenges such as health crises, economic instability and food security.

The virtual summit was attended by several Omani officials, including Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali al Harthy, Undersecretary for Political Affairs at Foreign Ministry; Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al Badi, Secretary-General of Office of Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs; and Ahmed bin Hashel al Maskari, Head of Department of Gulf Cooperation Council and Neighbouring Countries at Foreign Ministry.