China is a huge importer and consumer of oil products and has state-of-the-art technologies in oil exploration and well drilling, Wu said, adding that Sino-Omani cooperation in the petroleum sector should include technological exchanges as well as oil trade.

Wu said China welcomes Oman's participation in China's development of the western region and particularly in the pipeline project to transfer natural gas from the country's west to the east.

She briefed the guests on China's reform and opening up, saying that the Chinese government encourages Chinese entrepreneurs to invest in Oman.

Al-Rumhy said the Omani government is pleased with the fruitful cooperation with China in the oil and gas sector in recent years.

Al-Rumhy and his delegation are here at the invitation of Shi Guangsheng, minister of foreign trade and economic cooperation, who met with the Omani guests earlier on Tuesday.

Oman is an important oil exporting country in the Gulf Region. In 2000, China imported over 15 million tons of crude oil from Oman, nearly one fifth of the country's total crude oil imports.

(Xinhua 04/24/2001)