UAE ‘eager to help Kingdom overcome economic challenges’

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday discussed with UAE’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan bilateral relations and the regional situation, according to a Royal Court statement. 

During the meeting, His Majesty stressed Jordan’s keenness to consolidate the “close and historic relations between Jordan and the UAE and expand the horizons of cooperation in all areas”.

During the discussions, which continued over a lunch banquet, the two sides stressed the advanced level of coordination and cooperation between the two countries in their efforts to deal with regional crises and bring about security, stability and peace in the region.

King Abdullah expressed his appreciation to the UAE for the “constant support it provides to Jordan to help it carry out development projects”, the statement said.

His Majesty pointed out the importance of expanding the volume of Emirati investments in the Kingdom, noting the competitive advantages offered by the Jordanian economy to investors in dynamic sectors.

Talks covered the challenges facing the region and Arab countries, and efforts were made to reach political solutions to regional crises to restore security and stability for the people of these countries.

In regards to the Palestinian issue and Jerusalem, His Majesty stressed the importance of the next Arab summit, slated for April in Riyadh, to unify the pan-Arab position in support of the legitimate right of Palestinians to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Sheikh Abdullah expressed his appreciation for Jordan’s role in serving Arab and Islamic issues and its efforts to achieve peace, security and stability in the Middle East, stressing his country’s keenness to strengthen cooperation with Jordan in various areas that serves the interest of both countries. 

For his part, the visiting minister highlighted the importance of Jordan’s strategic role in the region and UAE’s eagerness to stand by Jordan in order to help it overcome the economic challenges and progress with the implementation of development and economic projects.

Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, King’s Office Director Manar Dabbas and UAE ambassador to Jordan Matar Shamsi attended the meeting. 

Also on Tuesday, Safadi and Sheikh Abdullah said that the relations between the two countries are moving steadily towards wider horizons of cooperation, consultation and coordination in all political, economic and defence fields, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

They emphasised that Jordan and UAE are continuing to take steps and procedures to enhance and develop ties in a manner that reflects positively on both nations and their citizens. 

They also stressed the importance of exerting collective efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution, which guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital within June 4, 1967 lines as a prerequisite to a broader regional peace.

The top diplomats discussed developments in the Syrian crisis, stressing the importance of supporting efforts to reach a political solution. 

Safadi and Sheikh Abdullah reviewed other regional issues of common interest and highlighted the importance of ending regional countries’ interference in the affairs of Arab countries. 

Sheikh Abdullah said in remarks to the press after the meeting that the Emirati minister of energy, who also handles industrial affairs, will visit Jordan to discuss with his Jordanian peers ways to further cooperation. He added that the UAE currently hosts more than 200,000 Jordanians, who are “working hard to develop relations of the two countries and contribute to the progress of the UAE”.