Muscat – The 16th session of the Oman-UK Joint Working Group convened on Sunday at the Foreign Ministry, underscoring the enduring partnership between the Sultanate of Oman and the United Kingdom.

The Omani delegation was led by H E Sheikh Khalifa al Harthy, Undersecretary for Political Affairs, while the UK delegation was headed by Hamish Falconer, Minister for the Middle East and North Africa.

Discussions during the meeting focused on enhancing bilateral relations and exploring avenues for cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including culture, tourism, education, vocational training, environment and renewable energy.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.

“I had a dialogue on boosting growth and clean energy in both countries. We also discussed regional security, jointly calling for the return to a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to bloodshed,” Falconer posted on X.

The meeting was attended by Mundhir bin Mahfoudh al Mandhari, Head of Europe Department; Abdullah bin Hamad al Riyami, Head of Cultural Cooperation Department; H E Dr Lianne Saunders, UK Ambassador to Oman; and representatives of relevant government entities.

On the sidelines of the session, the British Embassy in Muscat hosted a special celebration to mark the 225th anniversary of the Treaty of Enduring Relations, first signed in 1800. The event featured the unveiling of a commemorative logo symbolising the historic and deep-rooted ties between the two nations.