China is seen in the Middle East as "a special model" due to its balanced stands on the Palestinian issue and the situation in Iraq.
Jordan intends to diversify its sources of military purchases and looks on at China as one of the advanced countries in the field of military industry.
Israel -- recipient of some of America's most advanced technology -- has an increasingly worrisome defense relationship with Beijing. #msg-3334197
Israel who is selling weapons to China is objecting to the sale of U.S.-manufactured arms to Jordan. #msg-3702196
Israel who is selling weapons to China, annually receives $3 billion in U.S. aid, including advanced technology, objects to the sale of U.S.-manufactured arms to Jordan. If Jordan could buy from Israel directly they could probably in many instances get the same weapons that China would sell them.
China’s influence is increasing throughout the world at an impressive rate.
-Am
Jordan, China sign grant, soft loan agreements
Jordan Times - 01/08/2004
AMMAN (JT) — His Majesty King Abdullah held a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday during which they discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations in the economic, political and cultural fields.
During the meeting, the King thanked China for its support, adding that China's assistance to Jordan comes at a time when the Kingdom is exerting efforts to proceed with its economic reform process.
His Majesty said Jordan intends to diversify its sources of military purchases and looks on at China as one of the advanced countries in the field of military industry. He added that Jordan is keen on widening the scope of bilateral relations with China in the fields of culture and tourism. The two sides also discussed prospects of exchanging scholarships, increasing the size of Chinese investments in Jordan, which currently stand at JD30 million, and enhancing cooperation between the private sectors of both countries, especially in the field of IT.
Regional issues were also on the agenda of the Monarch's meeting with Jintao. The King urged Beijing to play an active role in efforts aimed at bringing about peace and stability in Iraq and an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
His Majesty said that China is seen in the Middle East as "a special model" due to its balanced stands on the Palestinian issue and the situation in Iraq.
The Chinese president said his country is willing to work with Jordan and the international community to find a just solution to the Palestinian issue in the context of international legitimacy and resolutions. Hu Jintao noted that Israel's continued work on the construction of the separation barrier in the West Bank would complicate the situation in the Palestinian territories. Regarding the situation in Iraq, he pointed out China's readiness to work with Jordan, the Arab countries and the international community to help rebuild a free and a stable Iraq.
Earlier Friday, King Abdullah met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. The King reiterated Jordan's readiness to provide facilities at hand to Chinese firms through the investment window set up to assist foreign investors.
Wen said Chinese investments in Jordan grew by 46 per cent over the past five years, a fact that reflects the high level of economic ties between the two countries. He added that China needs Jordan to provide facilities to Chinese companies willing to contribute to the rebuilding of Iraq.
With regard to Chinese labour in Jordan, the premier said his country hopes to sign an agreement with Jordan to regulate the affairs of Chinese labourers, mainly employed in companies operating in the Qualified Industrial Zones in the Kingdom.
Wen said many Chinese firms based in Shanghai have been cooperating with their Jordanian counterparts, noting that this success would lead to new partnerships between the private sectors of the two countries.
Meanwhile, on Friday Jordan and China signed a $7.2 million grant agreement and a $24 million soft loan agreement that will be spent on development projects and economic reforms.
In the presence of His Majesty and the Chinese president, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Bassem Awadallah and Chinese Minister of Trade Bu Tshali signed a grant agreement that will finance the government's development plans for the next two years. The $24 million soft loan agreement will be paid over 20 years, with a five-year grace period. Awadallah said China is currently funding the Maan industrial zone, water projects and a project to establish Ein Al Basha Hospital.
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