By Ibrahim Khazen and Mohammad Sio
ISTANBUL (AA) - Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman arrived in Algeria on Sunday for a two-day state visit, the first by an Omani leader in over 52 years, to strengthen bilateral ties and address regional concerns.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune welcomed the sultan at Houari Boumediene International Airport in the capital Algiers, the Algerian Press Service reported.
The last Omani visit at this level occurred in 1973, when Sultan Qaboos bin Said attended a Non-Aligned Movement summit. Tebboune’s trip to Muscat in October 2024 was the first by an Algerian president in 34 years.
During a meeting held in Algiers, both leaders reaffirmed the profound bilateral relations and their unwavering commitment to strengthen them in order to broaden their horizons, underscoring their shared historical legacy and mutually shared objectives, the Oman News Agency stated.
Recent years have seen renewed momentum in Algerian-Omani relations, driven by both leaders’ resolve to advance collaboration, the Algerian agency reported.
The visit includes talks on boosting cooperation and exchanging views on international and regional issues, particularly the Palestinian cause, the agency noted.
Tebboune’s October visit to Oman laid the groundwork for a joint Algerian-Omani investment fund, expected to spur economic growth.
That trip culminated in a joint statement and eight memoranda of understanding covering investment, education, environment, finance, employment, and media.
A statement from Oman’s Royal Court, issued days before the visit, outlined plans to explore all avenues of cooperation to meet shared objectives and enhance Arab unity while addressing regional and global developments.