China is willing to further strengthen its ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council and its members, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said in Muscat Thursday.

Wu Guanzheng, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, made the remarks while meeting with Omani Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs Fahad Bin Mahmoud al-Said.

China and Oman are politically friendly and economically complementary, and have extensive cooperation scope, said Wu, who arrived here Tuesday night for an official good-will visit.

Mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries has progressed into a new phase, Wu said. China and Oman have swiftly enlarged cooperation in the oil sector and some Chinese companies have participated in a number of infrastructure projects in Oman.

He appreciated the GCC's efforts in maintaining regional stability and active participation in regional and international affairs, saying China thanks Oman for enhancing ties between China and the GCC.

The Chinese new leadership will work to further relations with the GCC and its members, Wu noted.

Fahad said that China has advanced in a very stable and healthy way over recent years and is playing an increasing role in regional and international affairs.

As developing countries, he said, Oman and China have a very solid basis for their relationship and face many identical problems and challenges.

Earlier Thursday, Wu met with Omani Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Yousef Bin Alawi Bin Abdullah, and Minister of Commerce and Industry Maqbool Bin Ali Bin Sultan.

The two sides exchanged views and reached consensus on how to strengthen coordination in international affairs and to expand trade and investment between the two countries.

(Xinhua News Agency October 24, 2003)