Sunday 01 / November / 2026
Beijing: Preparations continued in Beijing for the state visit to be paid by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the People's Republic of China, as main roads and several Chinese locations witnessed the hoisting of Omani and Chinese flags.
The two-day state visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the People's Republic of China, commencing on Sunday, has garnered widespread coverage and interest from official and central Chinese media outlets, led by the People's Daily newspaper, Xinhua News Agency, China Central Television (CCTV), China News Service (CNS), alongside numerous news websites and platforms.
The media coverage reflected clear interest in the political, economic, and civilizational dimensions of the visit, focusing on its significance in the trajectory of Omani-Chinese relations and its representation as a major milestone for strengthening the strategic partnership between the two friendly countries and opening broader horizons for cooperation across various fields.
Coverage was not limited to publishing news regarding the visit's announcement and schedule, but extended to providing analytical and introductory materials that focused on the Sultanate of Oman and its regional standing, the history of its relations with the People’s Republic of China, and promising opportunities for developing bilateral cooperation in the upcoming phase.
The interest of People's Daily—one of China's most prominent central media institutions—was evident through publishing three media pieces on 30 and 31 October. These pieces addressed the visit from different angles, publishing the official announcement, an extensive article by the accredited Chinese Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman titled "Opening a New Chapter of Development and Shared Prosperity Between China and Oman," as well as dedicated coverage of the visit titled "Sultan of Oman Haitham Begins a State Visit to China Today," which included a brief biography of His Majesty the Sultan.
The Chinese Ambassador's article was the most prominent published material in terms of content, addressing the strategic importance of the visit, reviewing the historical extent of relations between the two countries via the Maritime Silk Road and their development across various fields, while focusing on economic partnership, cultural exchange, and future cooperation opportunities in modern sectors.
For its part, Xinhua News Agency paid detailed attention to the visit, publishing the official announcement on 30 October, followed by an introductory piece covering the biography of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, key milestones in his journey, and his accession to power in the Sultanate of Oman. This contributed to providing extensive information about the visit and His Majesty to various Chinese media outlets that rely on the agency's network for their news coverage.
China Central Television also reflected interest in the political dimension of the visit when its correspondent posed a question during the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs press conference regarding visit arrangements, the Chinese side's assessment of bilateral relations, and the expectations placed upon the visit.
In response, the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the visit represents the first by His Majesty the Sultan to the People’s Republic of China since his accession to power, and also marks the first visit by an Omani Sultan to the People's Republic of China since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 48 years ago.
Coverage extended to several other news institutions and platforms, including China News Service and the Phoenix news website, as well as various media platforms, which based their coverage on the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' announcement and official statements.
Monitoring and analysis of published media materials revealed four main themes forming the primary messages emphasized by Chinese media in its coverage of the visit. The first was historical and political significance, presenting the visit as a pivotal milestone in bilateral relations, particularly as it is the first of its kind at the level of visits by Oman's Sultans since establishing diplomatic relations in 1978.
The second theme pertained to economic partnership, highlighting China's standing as the primary trading partner of the Sultanate of Oman since 2018, with emphasis on available potential to boost investments and trade exchange, and expand cooperation in renewable energy, advanced industries, the digital economy, and artificial intelligence.
The third theme focused on the civilizational and historical ties uniting the two countries by recalling the legacy of maritime communication via the Silk Road, voyages of Omani sailors and merchants to Chinese ports, and Chinese navigator Zheng He's visits to Omani shores, reflecting the depth and centuries-long extension of trade, cultural, and civilizational exchange.
The fourth theme covered the Sultanate of Oman's regional role, as media materials highlighted China's appreciation for Oman's approach based on dialogue and understanding, Oman's role in supporting mediation efforts and settling regional issues, and enhancing security and stability in the region.
Monitored media coverage revealed several indicators, chief among them the official and media interest from the People’s Republic of China, which manifested through its presence across top central media institutions, as well as being addressed during the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affair’s press conference.
The coverage also reflected the keenness of Chinese media to present a multi-dimensional image of the Sultanate of Oman—not limited to its diplomatic relations with China, but extending to its economic standing, civilizational and historical heritage, and regional role in consolidating dialogue and understanding.
Conversely, measuring public interaction with the visit and the spread of its news among users of Chinese social media platforms remains another aspect that can complement reading the media presence of the visit and its impact on Chinese public opinion.
In this context, Nader Rong, a Chinese journalist specialising in political and economic affairs, stated that the Chinese people look forward to further cultural and media exchange with the Sultanate of Oman, contributing to enhancing mutual acquaintance and understanding between the two peoples and consolidating traditional ties of friendship between the two friendly countries.
In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), he added that there are promising opportunities for expanding this cooperation, particularly with the inclusion of the Chinese language within educational curricula in a number of schools and institutes in the Sultanate of Oman, noting the importance of boosting cooperation between media institutions in both countries through exchanging press visits, delegations, and media programs to introduce each country's culture, society, and achievements.
He emphasised that media plays a pivotal role in promoting rapprochement and understanding among peoples, particularly amidst what he described as the dominance of certain Western media coverages, stressing the importance of conveying a realistic and balanced picture of both countries and enhancing direct communication between media institutions and journalists.
He explained that conveying the true image of the Sultanate of Oman and its economic, tourism, and investment capabilities would contribute to introducing Chinese companies to opportunities available in Oman, encouraging further Chinese investments, and attracting Chinese tourists, thereby boosting shared interests and opening broader horizons for cooperation between the two countries.
This extensive media coverage confirms that His Majesty the Sultan's visit to the People's Republic of China holds not only political and economic significance, but also represents an opportunity to enhance Oman's presence in the Chinese media landscape, highlight the Sultanate of Oman's capabilities and achievements, and reinforce bridges of civilizational and human communication between the two friendly peoples.
