MUSCAT — His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak held a session of bilateral talks yesterday at Al Alam Palace Guest House.

They discussed several aspects of cooperation between the two brotherly countries and a wide range of regional and international developments.

Mubarak arrived here yesterday on a two-day official visit to the Sultanate to be followed by a private visit. His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said led the welcoming party for the president and his delegation.

An official welcoming ceremony was held in honour of the Egyptian president. The national anthem of Egypt was played and the artillery fired a 21-gun salute to honour the guest. Mubarak is accompanied by an official delegation comprising three senior ministers, Dr Zakariya Azmi, head of the Presidential Diwan, Ezz Eddin Fahmy, the Egyptian ambassador to the Sultanate, in addition to a number of officials.

The talks were attended from the Omani side by His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, Sayyid Ali bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, minister of the Diwan of Royal Court, General Ali bin Majid Al Ma’mari, minister of the Royal Office, Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, minister responsible for foreign affairs, Dr Omar bin Abdulmunim Al Zawawi, His Majesty the Sultan’s special adviser for external liaison, Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, minister of commerce and industry, Yahya bin Saud Al Sulaimi, minister of education (head of mission of honour accompanying the guest), Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Hinai, the Sultanate’s ambassador to Egypt and its Permanent Representative to the Arab League.

The session was attended from the Egyptian side by Ahmed Abu Al Ghait, foreign minister, Eng. Rasheed Mohammed Rasheed, minister of commerce and industry, Dr Mahmoud Mohyieddin, minister of investment, Dr Zakariya Azmi, head of the president
of the Republic Diwan, and Ezz Eddin Fahmy, Egyptian ambassador to the Sultanate.