Muscat: Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister held meetings today with his counterparts, on the sidelines of the 8th Indian Ocean Conference. The discussions focused on enhancing maritime security and addressing regional challenges in the Indian Ocean region.

According to Oman News Agency, the meetings included discussions with Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism in Sri Lanka; DN Dhungyel, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Bhutan; Miyaji Takuma, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan; Touhid Hossain, Adviser for Foreign Affairs in Bangladesh; Dr. Rana Arzu Deuba, Foreign Minister of Nepal; Dr. Abbas Araghchi, Foreign Minister of Iran; and Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General of BIMSTEC.

The Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of cooperation to tackle issues such as piracy, smuggling, organized crime, and the impact of climate change on the marine environment. The meetings also reviewed diplomatic efforts to enhance regional stability through dialogue and joint coordination.

During these engagements, Sayyid Badr highlighted Oman’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with various countries. He pointed to the importance of mutual visits and participation in international events like Expo 2025 in Osaka, viewing it as an opportunity to support economic and technological cooperation and to leverage modern innovations for sustainable development.