(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) MADRID, Nov 4 (KUNA) -- King Felipe VI of Spain met Tuesday with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman at the Royal Palace in Madrid, during the Sultan's first official visit to Spain.
The Spanish monarch and Queen Letizia hosted a formal reception for the Sultan and his accompanying high-level delegation, followed by a brief friendly meeting between officials.
The visit, initially scheduled for May but postponed at the last moment, aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation across various sectors, particularly trade and economy, with several memoranda of understanding and agreements expected to be signed.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, the Sultan will continue his program with a meeting at the presidential palace, La Moncloa, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
He will also participate alongside King Felipe VI in a Spanish-Omani economic forum organized by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Trade.
The Sultan is accompanied by a senior official delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Shihab bin Tariq Al-Said, Minister of the Royal Court Khalid bin Hilal Al-Busaidi, Minister of the Office of the Sultan, General Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Nuaimi.
The delegation also includes Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Chief of the Special Office Dr. Hamad bin Said Al-Aufi, Chairman of the Oman Investment Authority Abdulsalam bin Mohammed Al-Murshidi, and Ministers of Energy and Minerals Salem bin Nasser Al-Aufi and Commerce and Industry Qais bin Mohammed Al-Yousuf.
Spain and Oman have maintained diplomatic relations since 1972. However, the Spanish embassy in Muscat opened only in 2004, while Oman appointed its first ambassador to Madrid in 2007. (end)
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