Toespraak minister-president Schoof bij regeringslunch tijdens staatsbezoek van Sultan van Oman
Engelstalige speech ter gelegenheid van het staatsbezoek aan Nederland van Zijne Majesteit Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. De toespraak is alleen in het Engels beschikbaar.
Your Majesty,
Around the year 1800, 1 of your forebears wrote the following words in a letter to the Dutch representative in what was then known as Batavia:
It is hoped that the letter serves as the acknowledgment of the renewal of love and union, and further we also wish that you will continue to do well, in prosperity, safety and joy, as long as the times and ages pass by.
His words reflect the long-standing bond of friendship between our countries, and the spirit of cooperation that we have enjoyed for four centuries now. The people and government of the Netherlands cherish this relationship. And with your state visit to our country, Your Majesty, the next lines in the book of our common history have been written.
It is significant – and encouraging – that our two maritime nations continue looking to the future in that same spirit. Together we are exploring new ways to boost the prosperity and wellbeing of our peoples, and to make the world a better place for the generations that follow us. We do so in the knowledge that dialogue and partnership add value. And that cooperation is not a zero-sum game.
It’s no accident that the Netherlands is a dedicated partner in Oman Vision 2040. Dutch companies and knowledge institutions are providing expertise and technology that will help your country reduce its dependence on oil and gas. This will not only benefit Oman, but will also present opportunities for Dutch businesses and investors.
We’re also working together on another aim of Oman Vision 2040: to strengthen local governance. The Association of Netherlands Municipalities was recently one of your partners, which shows that our countries’ cooperation extends to all tiers of government. And long may it continue!
More generally speaking, our bilateral partnership is increasingly geared to future-oriented sectors, such as green hydrogen, water management and sustainable logistics and mobility. This makes us partners for the future. And that’s important in a world that is growing more turbulent and unstable by the day.
Your Majesty,
The Netherlands greatly appreciates the role that Oman plays in the region and the wider world, as a voice of reason and dialogue. As friends, we know how crucial such open dialogue is in helping us build a better future for our peoples.
Let’s continue working to that end, for the benefit of future generations. And let’s do so in the spirit of your forebear, by fostering ‘love and union’ between our countries.
Thank you.