Safadi, Qatar PM affirm strength of bilateral ties

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Friday met with Qatar Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani in Doha over bilateral ties and issues of common interest.

Safadi congratulated Sheikh Mohammad on his appointment as prime minister and his position as minister of foreign affairs, wishing him success under the leadership of Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Safadi expressed keenness to continue collaborating and enhancing strategic relations in implementation of directives of His Majesty King Abdullah and His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Safadi and Sheikh Mohammad highlighted the growing cooperation between Jordan and Qatar in various economic endeavours and investments, and both affirmed their keenness to broaden the scope of collaborative projects. 

The two sides discussed various joint programmes in the economy, investment and trade, and measures underway to increase cooperation, in implementation of the outcomes of the summit between King Abdullah and Sheikh Tamim in Doha earlier this year.

Safadi thanked Sheikh Mohammad for the care provided to Jordanian citizens residing in Qatar. Since the announcement of Sheikh Tamim’s initiative to provide 10,000 jobs for Jordanians in 2018 and another 10,000 in 2020, the number of Jordanians residing in Qatar has increased to about 70,000.

Sheikh Mohammad reaffirmed his country's keenness to develop relations with Jordan, especially in investment. Both officials lauded the distinguished and evolving relations between the two countries.

The Palestinian cause topped the list of regional issues discussed by Safadi and Sheikh Mohammad, who both confirmed that the only way to a just and comprehensive peace is to ensure the fulfilment of all legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to freedom and an independent and sovereign state on the pre-June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, on the basis of the two-state solution.

Safadi briefed Sheikh Mohammad on Jordan's efforts, in coordination with international partners, to stop illegal Israeli measures that undermine the two-state solution and fuel violence, including the recently-held Aqaba meeting.

Sheikh Mohammad and Safadi agreed to continue coordination and consultation on these efforts.

The meeting also dealt with efforts exerted to solve the Syrian crisis, as Sheikh Mohammad and Safadi discussed the Jordanian initiative of direct Arab engagement with the Syrian government to gradually move towards resolving the crisis step-by-step.

Safadi and Sheikh Mohammad tackled many Arab, regional and international issues of common interest in the context of ongoing coordination and consultation between the two countries.