Amman — King Abdullah of Jordan held a meeting with Japan’s Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa on Monday, according to Jordan News Agency.
The meeting, attended by Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, focused on enhancing economic, investment, trade, and defense cooperation between the two countries. They also discussed the outcomes of King Abdullah’s visit to Japan in April and explored opportunities to further build upon them.
During the meeting, King Abdullah expressed his gratitude to Hayashi for Japan’s assistance to Jordan. He specifically mentioned the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries in the fields of economy and energy during Hayashi’s visit. The King also commended Japan’s support for Syrian refugees and host communities, as well as its contributions to Palestinian refugees through the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.
The discussions encompassed the refugee crisis and its impact on host communities, emphasizing the importance of international support and facilitating the safe and voluntary return of refugees. Regional and international developments, particularly the Palestinian cause, were also on the agenda, reflecting the shared interest of both nations in promoting peace and stability in the region.
In addition to King Abdullah and Hayashi, the meeting was attended by Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the King’s Office Jafar Hassan, and Japanese Ambassador to Jordan Jiro Okuyama. The visit of Foreign Minister Hayashi precedes the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and Jordan, which will be celebrated next year. As part of his visit, Hayashi also met with Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh to review the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Prime Minister Khasawneh commended the recent announcement of a $102.8 million Japanese loan to support Jordan’s electricity sector, along with a $6.4 million grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency to enhance the operational capacity of Jordan’s energy system.
Discussions also touched upon the Palestinian cause, with Khasawneh emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive solution based on a two-state framework, with a sovereign Palestinian state along the pre-June 4, 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital. He underscored the need to preserve the historic status and sanctities of Jerusalem, a responsibility entrusted to King Abdullah under the Hashemite custodianship.
Foreign Minister Hayashi expressed Japan’s interest in Jordan’s investment prospects, highlighting the cooperative opportunities unveiled during the Jordanian-Japanese Business Forum held in Amman in July. He also expressed his eagerness to contribute to the third Arab-Japanese political dialogue in Cairo on Tuesday and the inaugural ministerial meeting of Jordan, Egypt, and Japan scheduled later this month.
The meeting between King Abdullah and Foreign Minister Hayashi reaffirms the commitment of Jordan and Japan to deepening their bilateral relations across various sectors. It sets the stage for increased cooperation and collaboration, fostering mutual understanding and prosperity between the two nations.
