JBA president, Chinese ambassador discuss trade ties

AMMAN — Hamdi Al Tabbaa, president of the Jordan Businessmen Association, and Chinese Ambassador to the Kingdom Chen Chuandong met on Wednesday to discuss prospects for economic, investment and trade cooperation between the two countries.

Tabbaa said that the discussions will contribute to enhancing bilateral relations between the business communities of both sides. He also highlighted the “close and distinct” relations between the two countries, also noting the continuous development of bilateral relations in recent years.

Since its establishment, the Arab Businessmen Union has helped strengthen Arab-Chinese relations by organising and actively participating in several Arab-Chinese meetings, most notably the Arab-Chinese Businessmen Conference.

He emphasised that the trade exchange between the two countries constitutes a high percentage of the GDP and expressed his desire for more cooperation in the field of vocational training.

The Chinese envoy praised Jordan as a distinguished tourist destination for Chinese travellers, and expressed a desire to boost trade between the two countries.

He also noted that China is a leading country in the field of vocational training due to its number of diverse, specialised institutes. 

The ambassador emphasised the importance of Jordan's role in the region and its humanitarian efforts in protecting and hosting refugees, despite the economic pressures and challenges faced by the local economy. He expressed China's interest in strategic investment projects in Jordan, including the expansion of the petroleum refinery and other initiatives outlined in the modernisation vision.

In 2021, the volume of trade exchange between the two countries amounted to approximately $3.2 billion. Exports of fertilisers and aluminium were valued at $0.104 billion, while imports of machinery, electrical and mechanical devices were valued at $3.1 billion.