On December 9, 2025, a ceremony in Muscat, the capital of Oman, injected a new era of annotation into the long-standing friendship between China and Oman - the Oman Chinese Education Project was officially launched. Chinese Ambassador to Oman Lv Jian, Deputy Minister of Education Abdullah of Oman, Deputy Director of the Chinese Foreign Language Exchange and Cooperation Center Yu Tianqi and other guests gathered together to witness this historic moment. This is not only the first time that Chinese has been systematically introduced into the Omani national education system, but also marks a new stage of soft connectivity between the two countries' strategic partnership, moving from hard connectivity in traditional fields such as economy, trade, and energy to a new stage of language and culture mutual understanding and deep cultural exchange.

Far sighted: from top-level initiatives to concrete practices

The Chinese education project has taken root in Oman, with a clear strategic context and the inevitability of the times behind it. This measure is a direct result of implementing the important consensus of the first China GCC Summit in 2022.   The Global Civilization Initiative proposed in 2023 further provides ideological guidance for equal dialogue and common prosperity among different civilizations. As Ambassador Lv Jian pointed out in his speech, introducing Chinese language teaching into Oman's national education is a new and direct bridge between the two peoples, aimed at helping Omani friends master the golden key of Chinese language, directly read the source code of Chinese civilization, and work together more closely to create the future.

Strategic alignment: from national development to people to people connectivity

The high attention and warm welcome shown by Oman towards this project stems from its deep alignment with the national development strategy. Oman is committed to promoting the national transformation plan of Vision 2040, in which education reform and talent cultivation are the core, and strengthening international connections, especially deepening cooperation with China as an important global partner, is a key link. Abdullah, the Deputy Minister of Education of Oman, clearly stated that offering Chinese courses is in line with the country's development strategy. Through systematic learning of Chinese, the young generation of Oman will gain a broader vision and more direct career development opportunities, and can deeply participate in the forefront of China Arab cooperation in the joint construction of the the Belt and Road, the digital economy, green energy and other areas.

To promote this cause, China has shown full sincerity and support. Ambassador Lv Jian announced the establishment of the Chinese Ambassador Scholarship on site, aimed at rewarding Omani students who have performed outstandingly in Chinese language learning and cultural dissemination every year, inspiring more young people to use language as a boat and effort as a sail. Yu Tianqi, Deputy Director of the Language Cooperation Center, promised to provide professional support for the systematic and localized development of Chinese language teaching in Oman, and cultivate more friendly ambassadors who are proficient in Chinese and culture.

From historical friendship to future prospects

The friendship between China and Arab countries has lasted for thousands of years, and the camel bells of the ancient Silk Road have long been transformed into the surging tide of modern cooperation. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China Arab relations have accelerated and become a model of friendly cooperation between China and Arab countries. However, a truly lasting and profound strategic partnership requires not only hard connectivity of infrastructure and smooth flow of economic and trade exchanges, but also a shared understanding of ideology and culture.

The launch of the Chinese education project fills the gap at this critical juncture, achieving a deepening of cooperation between the two countries from material exchange to language and cultural understanding. It is not just about teaching a language, but also about building a platform for mutual understanding. In the future, with the advancement of the project, more Omani youth will be able to appreciate the unique charm of Chinese literature, philosophy, and technology without translation filters. Chinese enterprises and institutions will also be able to communicate more smoothly with local society, discover and create more opportunities for cooperation. key word; The Belt and Road, people to people and cultural exchanges

Looking ahead from the opening ceremony in Muscat, a brand new path paved with language and illuminated by civilization is extending. It connects history and the future, communicates hearts and dreams, and will inject a continuous stream of vitality and energy into the long-term development of bilateral relations, jointly writing a more brilliant new chapter in the strategic partnership between China and Arab countries.Editor/Cheng Liting