Jordan, China stress need to improve ties

AMMAN – Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Tuesday met with China's State Councelor Wang Yong and an accompanying delegation, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

They discussed bilateral relations and developments in the Middle East.

During the meeting attended by several ministers, Ensour stressed the “distinguished relations” between Jordan and China and the need to enhance them in all fields, Petra said.

He noted that Jordan can be a starting point for China's industrial and trade activities in the region, citing the stability and security Jordan enjoys, the good relations with neighbours and its investor-friendly regulations and laws.

The premier also commended China's stances on regional  issues as "balanced" and not distant from those of the Kingdom, especially when it comes to the Palestinian and the Syrian issues.

Hosting Syrian refugees poses as the primary challenge resulting from the crisis, Ensour told the visiting delegates, noting that the cost stands at around JD3 billion a year, mainly shouldered by the Treasury because of scarcity of international aid. 

Wang asserted that Jordanian-Chinese relations have noticeably developed during the past few years, underlying the significance of His Majesty’s successful visit to China last September in which he signed a joint statement with the Chinese President Xi Jinping  to create a road map for strategic relations.

In remarks at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh stressed the “deep-rooted” relations between the two countries, noting that His Majesty's visit to China was an important milestone.

For her part, Trade, Industry and Supply Minister Maha Ali thanked China for hosting Jordan as an honorary guest during the Chinese-Arab exhibition last year. She said that despite the regional conditions, Jordan continued economic reform and efforts to create an investment environment.

Ali also said the Chinese investments in Jordan are modest and do not represent the advanced 39-year-old relations between the two countries, expressing keenness to establish a Jordanian-Chinese business council.

Higher Education Minister Labib Khadra stressed that the planned Jordanian-Chinese University is a priority for the government. He said the institution will be “purely a technical university where students will stay three years and spend two years in China. The university will fill the gap between industry requirements and market demand”.

At the conclusion, Ensour and Yong attended signing two cooperation agreements under which the Chinese government provides a grant of 70 million yuans (JD8 million) for funding projects listed in the Jordan Response Plan.