China, Jordan on track to deepen all-round pragmatic cooperation

AMMAN, Nov. 9-- China and Jordan agreed Sunday to deepen all-round cooperation and work together to promote the peace process in the Middle East during top Chinese political adviser Yu Zhengsheng's visit to the country.

Yu, chairman of the National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), was on the last leg of his four nations' tour in North Africa and West Asia, which has already taken him to Algeria, Morocco and Bahrain.

During his stay in Jordan, Yu met with King Abdullah II, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, Acting House Speaker Ahmad Safadi and Senate President Abdul Raouf Rawabdeh, and discussed with them bilateral ties and cooperation as well as regional affairs.

China regards Jordan as a key partner for cooperation in the region and has attached a great importance to the development of relations with Jordan, Yu said, adding that since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties 37 years ago, the two sides have seen smooth development of mutual relationship, frequent high-level exchange visits, deepening friendship and mutual trust, as well as fast pragmatic cooperation.

King Abdullah II paid a visit to China in September last year, and reached a series of important consensus over the development of bilateral ties with the Chinese leaders.

Yu said China would like to join Jordan in enhancing bilateral political mutual trust, accommodating each other's core interests and major concerns, and support respective efforts to maintain national security and stability and promote economic and social development.

Currently, Beijing has been active in promoting the building-up of the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st century maritime Silk Road, a China-proposed initiative for peace and win-win cooperation, and has declared the launch of the Silk Road fund.

Yu said China hopes Jordan can actively participate in the cooperation of the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st century maritime Silk Road, and China will also encourage Chinese firms to invest in Jordan's projects in such sectors as transportation, energy, infrastructure and others.

China is also willing to step up cooperation with Jordan in education, health, tourism and other cultural fields, he added. Yu said that Jordan has been playing an important and unique role in regional affairs, and is a member of the UN Security Council, adding that despite the constant turmoils in the region, Jordan has maintained its social stability and economic development, promoted peace talks between Palestine and Israel, and properly handled regional hotspots like the situation in Iraq and Syria.

China is willing to work with Jordan in supporting the just cause of the Arabs and promote the peace process in the Middle East so as to boost regional peace, stability and development, he said.

Yu also briefed the Jordanian leaders over China's political, social and economic situation, as well as the function of the CPPCC in China's politics, saying that the CPPCC would like to enhance their exchanges with the Jordanian parliament so as to ramp up mutual understanding and make positive contributions to the development of China-Jordan relationship.

King Abdullah II and other Jordanian leaders appreciated China' s long-term support, saying that both sides have cooperated well in many fields and projects.

Jordan would like to work with China in promoting cooperation in politics, economy, culture, education and other fields, and strengthen exchanges between legislative and consultative bodies, he said.

The two sides agree to step up coordination and cooperation in such major international and regional affairs as promoting Middle East peace and combating terrorism so as to boost a comprehensive development of bilateral ties.