New Delhi,
On the last leg of his West Asian tour, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was received by Sultan Qaboos bin Said at Bait al Barakh in Oman who hosted a banquet dinner in his honour. Modi today received Deputy Prime Ministers Fahd bin Mahmoud al-Said and Sayyid Asa’ad bin Tariq Al Said and interacted with Oman’s CEOs. Maritime cooperation between the two neighbours across the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea remained the focus of official talks, along with counter-terrorism, defence, cyber and space security, trade, energy cooperation, diaspora and regional stability.

Condemning terrorism in all its forms but without naming any country or terror outfit or mastermind, the joint statement read: “The two sides also emphasised upon the need to isolate the sponsors and supporters of terrorism and agreed that the international community should take urgent action against all such entities which support terrorism and use it as an instrument of policy.”

Modi appreciated the support extended by Omani security agencies on specific issues of security concern to India. “Your Majesty Sultan Qaboos, my deep gratitude to you and the people of Oman for the tremendous support, goodwill and affection. We are deeply honoured and we look forward to the forthcoming 50th anniversary of your stewardship of Oman,” wrote the Prime Minister on Twitter.

India and Oman signed eight MoUs and agreements in areas of space cooperation and health, among others, and agreed to regular joint exercises by the three defence forces and training of defence officials.The 10th round of the bilateral Joint Military Cooperation Committee talks will be held this year in Muscat. Oman has decided to join the India-led International Solar Alliance to harness solar energy and renewables.

Prior to his departure for India, PM Modi visited Sultan Qaboos Mosque and an ancient Shiva Mandir in Muscat. “PM Narendra Modi performed Abhishekam at the historic Lord Shiva temple at Muscat and interacted with members of the Temple Management Committee. It was constructed 125 years back by the merchant community from Gujarat and renovated in 1999,” tweeted MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar. Later, the PM visited the grand mosque, the biggest in Oman built from 300,000 tonnes of Indian sandstone sculpted by 200 craftsmen from India.