Chinese Ambassador: Steady Reforms Of Jordan, China Opened Broader Horizons For Cooperation

(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency)

Amman, July 21 (Petra) - The Chinese ambassador to Amman, Chen Quandong, highlighted that Jordan is a strategic partner of China, with both nations sharing aligned development philosophies and a common commitment to deepening reform.
In an interview with the Jordan News Agency (Petra), Quandong remarked on the recent third plenary session of the twentieth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, which has broadened avenues for global cooperation. He acknowledged Jordan's comprehensive political, economic, and administrative modernization efforts under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, emphasizing that China is also undertaking strategic steps to advance reform and modernization. This has opened new horizons for practical cooperation and mutual benefit, promising significant gains for both peoples.
The ambassador underscored that the cooperation between China, Jordan, and the Arab countries serves as a model for South-South collaboration. He referenced Chinese President Xi Jinping's presentation of the "eight joint actions" at the first China-Arab summit and the "five equations of cooperation" at this year's ministerial meeting of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum, aimed at expediting the formation of a Chinese-Arab community with a shared future.
Quandong highlighted that China has long been Jordan's second-largest trading partner and its principal source of imports. In 2023, the bilateral trade volume reached approximately $5.8 billion. Despite regional conflicts causing a slowdown in trade growth, there was a notable recovery in the second quarter, with a 10 percent increase in trade in May compared to the previous month.
He noted that in November of the previous year, the two governments signed a memorandum of understanding for the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, providing a substantial political impetus for bilateral cooperation.
In recent years, China has engaged deeply with Jordan in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing. The Chinese Investment Company has become the largest shareholder in the Arab Potash Company (APC), leading to record levels of potash production, sales, and profits.
Quandong also highlighted key projects such as the Attarat power project for generating electricity from oil shale and a ceramics factory in Karak, both of which have created numerous local job opportunities. Additionally, the primary phase of the Salt-Al-Arda road development and rehabilitation project was completed last May, funded by a Chinese grant and executed by Chinese and Jordanian companies to enhance local transportation and logistics. Moreover, a new Chinese-invested clothing factory commenced production in Aqaba.
He pointed out that last year, the Chinese Embassy in Jordan simplified visa procedures by eliminating appointment requirements, streamlining the application form, gradually exempting fingerprints, and reducing visa fees. Future efforts, he said, will focus on facilitating individual exchanges to encourage more Jordanian business and tourist travel to China.
"We envision China and Jordan as close companions on the path of reform and cherished partners in development, continuously exchanging experiences, aligning development strategies, jointly building the Belt and Road with high quality, and exploring new opportunities in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, new energy, tourism, modern agriculture, agricultural trade, and vocational education," said Quandong. "We aim to foster stronger economic and trade relations, enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and advance side by side on new paths of modernization."
The ambassador also outlined the outcomes of the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held in Beijing from July 15 to 18, including the review and adoption of a historic document, "The Committee's Decision on Promoting the Deepening of Reform in a Comprehensive Way to Advance China's Modernization."
Quandong elaborated on the session's comprehensive outcomes, which encompass reforms across all sectors. These include building a high-level socialist market economy, enhancing systems for high-quality economic development, fostering comprehensive innovation, and improving macroeconomic governance. The reforms also aim to integrate urban-rural development, promote high-level opening up, enhance governance under socialism with Chinese characteristics, and improve cultural, ecological, national security, and military systems.
The decision contains over 300 significant reform measures designed to strengthen system and state institutions. It emphasizes the importance of methodological integration and synergy, enhancing overall effectiveness, and reinforcing the central leadership of the Communist Party of China.
He highlighted the historical context of China's reform journey, noting that the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee in 1978 initiated the process of reform and opening up. The Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee in 2013 marked the beginning of comprehensive and systematic reforms.
Over the past decade, the Chinese Communist Party has successfully tackled development challenges, dismantling ideological constraints, overcoming entrenched interests, and advancing comprehensive and deep reforms.
This session represents a continuation of China's commitment to comprehensive reform amidst complex international and domestic situations. With the ongoing scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, reform remains paramount. The "resolution" from the session aligns with the goals set in the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Party Central Committee.
The general goals include enhancing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advancing the modernization of state governance. By 2035, China aims to complete the construction of a high-level socialist market economy, further refine its governance system, and lay a solid foundation for building a strong, modern socialist state by mid-century. These reforms will drive Chinese-style modernization and significantly impact China's future development, the envoy pointed out.
Quandong also noted that one of the session's most prominent outcomes is China's continued openness to the world. He emphasized that reform and opening up complement each other, with openness being a cornerstone of China's policy. President Xi Jinping has reiterated that "China's door to openness will not be closed, but will open wider."

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