Tarawneh talks partnership with officials during Japan visit

AMMAN — Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh has met his Japanese counterpart and the president of Japan’s House of Councilors over means of advancing parliamentary cooperation and enhancing commercial partnership.

Tarawneh visited Tokyo after an official invitation from Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Tadamori Oshima, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Tarawneh and his accompanying delegation, during their visit, also met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who expressed his country's commitment to the pledges Japan announced at the UK-hosted London Initiative, including the completion of the second batch of a development policy loan of $100 million.

During his meeting with his House Speaker Oshima, Tarawneh voiced appreciation for the Japanese aid extended to Jordan, as well as Tokyo's supportive stance on the two-state solution.  

Meanwhile, talks with Santo went over the Kingdom's efforts in combatting terrorism, as well as the economic burdens that have resulted from refugee influxes.

Stressing that Jordan is a "crucial" strategic partner, Oshima and Santo, expressed appreciation for His Majesty King Abdullah's role in seeking regional security and stability and his contributions to combating extremism within a comprehensive approach.

The Jordanian delegation, headed by Tarawneh, also held meetings with Head of the Jordanian-Japanese Parliamentary Friendship Committee Kazunari Tanaka and Chairman of the Jordanian-Japanese Friendship Society Mikio Sasaki. They met with Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Chairman and CEO Nobuhiko Sasaki and Japanese Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy Naokazu Takemoto as well.

 During the meetings, the Jordanian delegation drew attention to the importance of increasing the Japanese ventures in the Kingdom, with talks outlining investment opportunities and the Kingdom's encouraging environment for the Japanese private sector.

On the sidelines of the meetings, the Jordanian delegation, including MPs Mazen Qadi, head of the Lower House’s Modernity and Development Bloc, Hussein Qaisi, head of the Lower House's Energy Committee and Khair Abu Saileik, head of the Lower House’s Economy and Investment Committee, laid wreaths at the cenotaph at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.  

At the end of the visit, Tarawneh and his Japanese counterpart stressed the importance of preparing “legislative groundwork conducive to boosting cooperation” and achieving goals in the field of investment.