Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah bin Al Hussein at the Husseiniya Palace in Amman on Monday. During the meeting, the two leaders reviewed bilateral relations and discussed regional and global issues with special focus on peace and counter-terrorism.
Recalling the long-standing dialogue between the two leaders, Prime Minister Modi recalled earlier meetings focused on counter-extremism and restraint. Recalling those meetings, he said, “During your visit to India in 2018, we participated in a conference on Islamic heritage. I remember our first meeting also took place in 2015 at a UN event aimed at countering violent extremism. Even then you had inspiring words on the subject. Promoting restraint Your efforts are extremely important not only for regional peace but also for global peace. Together we will strengthen all other dimensions of our mutual cooperation.
The Prime Minister also highlighted Jordan’s consistent stance under the leadership of King Abdullah II and said the country has given a firm message against violence. He said India and Jordan are unanimous in their approach to countering “terrorism, extremism and radicalisation”. Linking this shared approach to developments in the region, Prime Minister Modi acknowledged the commitment of the Jordanian Monarch to regional stability, especially with regard to Gaza.
He said, “You have played a very active and positive role on the Gaza issue from the very beginning. We all hope that peace and stability will prevail in the region. We have a common and clear stance against terrorism. Under your leadership, Jordan has given a strong and strategic message to all humanity against terrorism, extremism and radicalism.”
These discussions took place when Prime Minister Modi arrived in Jordan on a two-day visit at the invitation of King Abdullah II, the first stop of his four-day three-nation tour. Ahead of the visit, the Prime Minister had said that his talks with Jordan would help deepen bilateral cooperation in a number of areas.
Welcoming the Indian leader, King Abdullah II expressed confidence that the visit will yield concrete results. He said, “We warmly welcome the agreements and memorandums of understanding signed during your visit, as they will further our cooperation and open up new avenues of partnership. We also look forward to tomorrow’s Jordan-India Business Forum, which will be an opportunity to discuss trade-related partnerships and possibilities for joint investment in key sectors.” Emphasizing the timing of the event, the Jordanian monarch said the forum would provide a platform to promote trade and encourage investment.
He further said, “Your Majesty, welcome once again to Jordan. I look forward to a fruitful discussion, and I am confident that this will lead to better relations and shared progress between our two countries. It is a pleasure to welcome you back to Jordan.” Describing the visit as a symbol of enduring relations, King Abdullah II said it reflects decades of friendship and cooperation between India and Jordan.
Highlighting the growing scope of cooperation, he said, “There is a strong partnership between our countries and we both share a common desire to advance the prosperity of our people. Over the past few years, our cooperation has expanded across many sectors. Your visit today provides an important opportunity to explore new avenues of economic cooperation in industry, information and communications technology, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, energy and many other promising areas of mutual benefit to our peoples.”
Prime Minister Modi’s visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Jordan and is a full-fledged bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister after a gap of 37 years. After his arrival, Prime Minister Modi shared a message on social media.
“I landed in Amman. I am grateful to Mr. Jafar Hassan, Prime Minister of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, for the warm welcome at the airport,” he said, adding, “I am sure that this visit will boost bilateral relations between our countries.”
Jordanian Prime Minister Jafar Hassan welcomed the Indian leader in a social media post. He said, “It is our honor to welcome the Prime Minister of the Republic of India @narendramodi to Jordan today as our honored guest. This visit reflects our 75 years of close and enduring relations.”
He further said, “We look forward to broader horizons of cooperation between our two countries, especially in the economic, investment and technological sectors.” Earlier, after reaching his hotel in Amman, Prime Minister Modi interacted with members of the Indian community and friends of India living in Jordan.
Appreciating the welcome, he wrote on
Depending on favorable weather conditions, the Prime Minister and the Crown Prince are also scheduled to visit Petra. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, this is Prime Minister Modi’s first full-fledged bilateral visit to Jordan. India and Jordan have strong economic ties, and India is Jordan’s third largest trading partner. Bilateral trade between the two countries stands at US$28 million. Jordan is a major supplier of fertilizers, especially phosphate and potash, to India. Jordan is also home to over 17,500 Indian expatriates, who are employed in various sectors such as textiles, construction and manufacturing.