Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman in Beijing on November 2. The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in oil and gas, renewable energy, technology, and supply chains. Oman also proposed a preferential trade and investment agreement. This move aims to address China's vulnerability in Middle East energy supply, which was exposed by the ongoing conflict in the region. Oman, with its ability to export oil and natural gas via routes outside the Strait of Hormuz, has become a key strategic partner for China in securing alternative energy supplies and trade routes.