Government meets with Canadian officials on enhancing relations

AMMAN — Prime Minister Omar Razzaz and acting senate president, Marouf Bakhit, on Thursday spoke with Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons Geoff Regan during two separate meetings to review the "distinguished" bilateral ties between Jordan and Canada.

During Razzaz’s meeting, which was attended by Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Musa Maaytah, and Canadian Ambassador to Amman Peter MacDougall, Razzaz expressed Jordan's gratitude to Canada for its support to the Kingdom, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The prime minister also praised Canada's assistance to UNRWA and its increase of financial contributions to support the agency’s budget.

The premier also addressed the burdens placed on Jordan due to instability in the Middle East and the Syrian refugee influx, saying that Jordan is carrying out those duties on behalf of the international community.

Canada has been at the forefront of countries supporting Jordan so that the Kingdom can continue to provide basic services to refugees, Razzaz added.

Jordan is keen to boost its culture of democracy, political reforms and support of political parties until reaching a parliamentary government, the premier highlighted, adding that Jordan is eager to learn from Canada’s experience in getting youth engaged in politics.

Regan added that his country follows His Majesty King Abdullah’s efforts aimed at bolstering security and stability in the region and enhancing the development process in the Kingdom.

The speaker expressed Canada's appreciation for Jordan's humane role in hosting refugees and providing them services despite the difficult economic circumstances.

Regan also commended the government’s willingness to enhance democracy, voicing his country's support of an exchange of parliamentary and academic expertise.

He noted that Canada is carrying out a programme to train parliamentarians and an initiative to receive overseas students to boost their involvement in public life.

Bakhit on Thursday also praised Canada's support to the Kingdom in various fields.

During a separate meeting with Regan, Bakhit described the bilateral relationship as "deep-rooted and strategic".

Bakhit highlighted the Kingdom's efforts to restore peace in the region, which is the key to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Petra added.

The senator added that Jordan's position is firm on the Palestinian cause and is based on the two-state solution and the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He voiced appreciation for Canada's rejection of the US administration's decision to relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and its declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, which aligns with Jordan's efforts in rejecting the move at the international level.

On the Syrian crisis, Bakhit said the Kingdom is hosting some 1.3 million Syrian refugees, and is exerting its best to meet their needs despite the huge burdens imposed on the national economy and the health and education sectors. 

Bakhit called for enhancing cooperation between the two countries to cover promising sectors in the Kingdom, especially the ICT, technical and vocational education, tourism and various investment fields.

For his part, Regan lauded Jordan's humanitarian role in hosting refugees from various neighbouring countries, despite the Kingdom’s limited resources.

He also commended Jordan’s efforts in achieving peace, security and stability in the Middle East.