Visiting Member of the Oman State Council Hatim Hamed Issa Al Taie yesterday praised the hardworking spirit of Taiwanese and called for peace in solving differences between countries.
He was in Taiwan for a two-week trip that concluded yesterday, when he visited the office of the Taipei Times and met with Liberty Times Group chairman Andy Lin (林鴻邦).
He has been sponsoring cooperative programs in renewable energy between Oman and National Dong Hwa University in Hualien County for the past seven years and has helped Pingtung County promote its fruit in his country.
Photo: Liu Tzu-hsuan, Taipei Times
Oman can learn from Taiwan’s successful experiences in establishing the Taipei Mass Rapid Transit system and the Hsinchu Science Park, as the country is planning to do the same, he said.
After touring Pingtung County’s aquaculture fishery industry, he said he was impressed by the highly organized workforce who are “in harmony with what they are doing.”
A strong and stable middle class born out of small and medium-sized enterprises is a central part of the structure of Taiwanese society, he said.
He would encourage more Omanis to study in Taiwan through scholarship programs, which can be beneficial to Oman as well as promote the image of Taiwan and enhance Omanis’ understanding of the country, he said.
As an open and peace-loving country, Oman acts as a mediator in all conflicts, he said, adding: “We always call for negotiation and peaceful solution” based on equality and respect for each other.
“I’m sure one day, if not today, Taiwan and China can be friends,” as people cannot be enemies forever, he said, citing warming relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia as an example.
Egos and politics divide Taiwan and China, but the two sides should put down their differences and focus on commonalities, as well as the challenges faced by the whole world to create a win-win situation, he added.
As editor-in-chief and CEO of Al Roya Press and Publishing, publisher of Al Roya Arabic newspaper, he also exchanged opinions with Lin on the obstacles faced by newspapers and media in today’s world.
Despite newspapers’ shrinking readership due to competition in the digital world, it is important to preserve this platform, he said.
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