Safadi meets Swiss FM over cooperation

AMMAN — Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis on Monday discussed means to develop Jordanian-Swiss relations, and reviewed the latest regional developments, especially those related to the Palestinian issue and the Syrian crisis. 

During a meeting in Amman, the two ministers expressed keenness to increase cooperation at the economic, trade, investment and defence levels, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Safadi expressed appreciation for the Swiss support to help the Kingdom bear its responsibilities towards Syrian refugees while Cassis expressed Switzerland’s appreciation for the Jordanian role in enhancing regional security, peace and stability. Cassis started his visit to the Kingdom with the inauguration of the new premises of the Swiss embassy in Amman. 

According to the Swiss embassy’s website, Switzerland recognised the Kingdom of Jordan in 1949. An embassy was opened in 1970 in Amman. Until 2008 Jordan ranked as a priority country for economic cooperation.

The ancient city of Petra, which is today a World Heritage Site, was first discovered in 1812 by the Swiss national Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.