New Delhi/UNI: India and Oman held the 12th Round of their Strategic Consultative Group (IOSCG) meeting in Muscat on Monday during which the two sides reviewed the bilateral ties and identified new areas of cooperation.

The 12th round of the IOSCG was co-chaired by Secretary (CPV & OIA) Ausaf Sayeed and Under Secretary for Diplomatic Affairs of Oman Sheikh Khalifa Alharthy.

The meeting reviewed bilateral ties between India and Oman in different domains and identified new areas of cooperation, a statement said.

The India-Oman Strategic Consultative Group meeting is an important forum for both countries enabling regular review of bilateral relations.

The discussions were focused on exploring avenues of cooperation in key sectors including energy, trade and investment, health, education, defence, and cultural exchanges.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Secretary Ausaf Sayeed interacted with the Indian community in Oman and appreciated their contributions to the development of both Oman and India. He assured them of the Indian government's commitment to their welfare and well-being.

The visit by Secretary Sayeed reflects the strong bilateral relationship between India and Oman, the importance of the Sultanate of Oman as a key partner for India in the Gulf and highlights India's commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with Oman.

The two sides expressed confidence that the outcomes of the 12th round of consultations will contribute to further enhancing the bilateral relationship and promoting greater cooperation in various fields, the statement added.

According to an Omani readout of the meeting, the two sides stressed the strength of the existing relations between the two friendly countries and the importance of strengthening them in all fields, including exploring opportunities for trade and investment cooperation and discussing consular issues.

The two sides also discussed the participation of the Sultanate of Oman as a guest of honour in the work of the G20 meetings chaired by the Republic of India this year, it added.