Jordanian-Sino ties yield ‘fruitful’ results — envoy

AMMAN — Chinese Ambassador to Jordan Pan Weifang on Monday shed light on recent prominent events that concern China and the world, the latest developments in the China-Jordan cooperation and Beijing’s position concerning relevant regional issues, according to a Chinese Embassy statement. 

The Chinese diplomat said that cooperation between Jordan and his country has yielded “fruitful” results and that economic and commercial relations have achieved new progress since establishing strategic bilateral relations and Jordan joining the “Belt and Road” initiative. 

At present, China is the Kingdom’s third largest commercial partner and its second largest source of imports, the ambassador said. He noted that in the first three quarters of 2019, total bilateral trade amounted to $3.103 billion, marking a 27.7-per cent annual increase.

Total Chinese imports from Jordan have amounted to $356 million, marking a 129.61 per cent annual increase, Weifang added.

On November 5, Jordan participated for the first time in the China International Import Exhibition in Shanghai, where it reviewed the Jordanian business environment, investment opportunities and developments in the agriculture, industry and tourism sectors, he said.

Attarat Oil Shale Power Plant Project, in which China has invested, will start operation in 2020. The project will contribute 10-15 per cent of Jordan’s electrical needs, which will reduce the Kingdom’s reliance on imported energy sources, the envoy said in the statement. 

The project will also reduce Jordan’s energy bill and will guarantee its energy security, while providing more than 5,000 job opportunities, the diplomat said.

Weifang stressed that the Chinese government is committed to providing Jordan with “all possible forms” of assistance, given the difficult circumstances that the country has faced over recent years. He said that his country is keen on implementing projects agreed upon by the two sides, and has contributed a total of 400 million Chinese yuans ($57,293,456).

The ambassador noted that China is considered Jordan’s biggest supplier in the field of human resources. In 2019, within the framework of the Chinese Foreign Aid Programme, 468 Jordanian businesspeople, officials, and technicians visited China to participate in various bilateral training courses organised by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

He added that 25 Jordanian officials had the opportunity to complete their higher education within this framework. In addition, participants from the military and police forces went to China to receive training, with 500 Jordanians benefitting from these courses. 

Weifang noted that in April, during the opening of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa, His Majesty King Abdullah met with Huawei‘s participating representative and signed a memorandum of understanding. Accordingly, Huawei will cooperate with three universities to build three information and communication technology academies, which will provide 3,000 training opportunities for Jordanians in this field. 

Concerning commercial friction between China and the US, Weifang said that in March 2019, Trump’s government “ignored China’s advice and insisted on agitating commercial friction between the two sides”. 

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development warned against commercial friction between the US and China, saying that it will decrease global economic growth expectations by 0.7 per cent at least, the ambassador noted.

Thanks to joint efforts from Chinese and American economic and commercial delegations, an agreement has been reached concerning the first phase of the economic and commercial agreement between China and the US, he said.

Weifang said that implementing the agreement will boost the confidence in the global market and bring about stability and economic activity on the international level.

The Middle East Security Forum, under the title “Middle East security in the new situation: Challenges and Exits” was recently successfully held in Beijing through Chinese initiative, where China suggested the “Chinese Plan” concerning security in the Middle East, the official added.

The plan promotes heading towards political settlement, defending justice, making room for the main role played by the UN and joining efforts regionally and internationally to form a unified and comprehensive security structure. 

Weifang affirmed China’s strong support of the Palestinian people and their cause, saying that it is in the best interest of the international community to resolve the Palestinian issue in a comprehensive and just manner and achieve peaceful coexistence and development for the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

He said that China believes that the two-state solution and “Land for Peace” are pillars of justice and must be abided by. He highlighted that China recently voted against legalising Israeli settlements at the UN Security Council and called for the US to bear the responsibility in playing a constructive role and avoiding increasing conflict and adding complications to the Palestinian cause.