Mexican FM in Jordan to follow up on King’s visit

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah and Mexico’s Foreign Minister José Antonio Meade Kuribreña on Sunday discussed ways to boost bilateral cooperation and reviewed regional and world issues, according to a Royal Court statement. 

During the meeting with the visiting minister, King Abdullah stressed Jordan’s commitment to boosting cooperation with Mexico and building on the agreements reached during his recent visit to Mexico and his meeting with President Enrique Peña Nieto. 

Jordan plans to open an embassy in Mexico at the end of this year, besides working to clinch a free trade agreement between the two countries, the statement said.  

At the meeting, King Abdullah urged activating joint agreements and memoranda of understanding, especially in the fields of information technology, transport, healthcare, tourism and industry, noting that Jordan represents a gateway into the Middle East, due to the country’s strategic location and sound investment environment. 

Regarding regional developments, the King highlighted the challenges and the burdens borne by Jordan as a result of hosting more than 1.3 million Syrians, pointing to the increasing pressure on the country’s infrastructure, services and limited resources, especially in the northern parts of the country, and expressing his appreciation of Mexico’s assistance to Jordan through UN agencies.  

The King also underlined the developments in Iraq and their dangerous repercussions on the security and the stability of the region, stressing Jordan’s concerns about the unity and safety of Iraq and its people. 

Resolving the crisis in Iraq should be based on a political solution that is inclusive of all the components of the Iraqi people, the King reiterated. 

Furthermore, King Abdullah reviewed the efforts exerted to achieve peace in the Middle East, stressing the centrality of the Palestinian question and the need to pursue efforts to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution. 

Meade Kuribreña said his country is also committed to boosting its cooperation and fostering its relations with the Kingdom in all fields. 

Also on Sunday, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh met separately with Kuribreña. 

Ensour stressed the importance of continued coordination and cooperation vis-à-vis all issues of joint concern.

Discussions with Judeh focused on regional developments, especially regarding the developments in Iraq and Syria and in relation to the Palestinian issue.  

Kuribreña said his visit came as a follow-up of King Abdullah’s recent visit to Mexico and is to build on what has been accomplished so far during the visit, especially with regard to strengthening political and economic relations.