在历史长河中携手新未来

This
year marks the centennial anniversary of Jordan’s foundation as a
modern state, an occasion to celebrate a hundred years of achievements,
security and stability, in a region that is striving for peace and
stability.

To build the Middle East economic center and investment hot spot

In
the heart of the Middle East, at a point that connects the three
continents of Asia, Africa and Europe, lies Jordan, a model country that
rose from the ashes of the ottoman empire to be one of the miracles of
the Middle East, and a country that is marked by the wisdom of its
leadership, and the warm hospitality of its people.

The
development of Jordan is a combination of both, a visionary leadership,
and able, creative and committed citizens, and together they managed to
transform Jordan into a modern state, safe and stable, with ambitious
goals to make the country one of the economic hubs of the region, and a
business heaven in many different sectors.

With
limited natural resources, Jordan through its modern history focused on
its human resources, and built one of the most reliable and credible
education systems in the Middle East, basic and higher, making it not
only a destination for students from all the Arabic countries, but also a
source of skilled and able labor force that contributed to the
development of many other brotherly countries in the region.

The
high level of education in Jordan lead to many areas of excellence
including in the Information Technology and Communications, which became
one of the most important sectors in Jordan, and also an important
source of Jordanian manpower to many neighboring, brotherly and friendly
countries. It is worthwhile mentioning that 75% of the Arabic content
on the internet are sourced from Jordan and made with Jordanian manpower
contribution. 

And
with such sophisticated human resources, Jordan managed also to present
itself as one of the leading medical and health care centers in the
region. The high-quality medical professionals and hospitals, together
with a worldwide recognized first class pharmaceutical industry, made
Jordan a major destination for medical tourism, and a platform for a
competitive edge of medical expertise.

On
another hand, Jordan’s reserves of high-grade Phosphate and Potash, not
only increased its export figures, but also paved the way for a
sophisticated chemical and fertilizers industry that attracts investors
from different parts of the world, and distinguished Jordan as a source
of high-quality fertilizers and agricultural nutrition supplies.

The
rich history of Jordan stretched from the old Arabic Nabatean kingdom
of Petra through the period of the Roman conquest that witnessed the
birth of six of the Roman Decapolis on its land, then the Islamic empire
concluded by the ottomans, leading to the foundation of Jordan under
the Hashemite monarchy, all together makes a tour in Jordan like a
journey through history, with all its excitement and breathtaking sites
and monuments. And when joint by the ecological and natural landscapes
like the desert valley of Wadi Rum that resembles the surface of Mars,
and the lowest point on earth at the Dead Sea, all of these make Jordan a
must visit place, and make Tourism as one of the most important sectors
for the economy, and of the most attractive for investment.

⬆  Petra at Night

An important hub along the Belt and Road

2021
is a good omen that this anniversary coincides with the centennial
anniversary of the Communist Party of China, another story of great
achievements, and an important period of history about visionary
leadership guiding a great nation’s march to the future.

Jordan
prides its self with the excellent relations it has with China,
nurtured by His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn AlHussein, and His
Excellency President Xi Jinping. The relations witnessed a great leap in
2015 when it was upgraded into a strategic partnership aims at further
diversification of areas of cooperation, and enhancing partnership in
the fields of economy, trade and investment, culture, and many more.

Jordan’s
excellent relations with China goes back to more than two thousands
years ago, when the Nabatean kingdom of Petra was an important
destination for traders on the Silk Road coming from China, and today as
we look at the Belt and Road initiative, Jordan with its unique
location can be an important point where the Maritime Road and the land
Belt of the initiative can meet.

Jordan’s
plan to be a logistics hub for the region, provides an excellent
opportunity and a widely open gateway to the region for Chinese products
and services, through such a bridge between the two countries that the
BRI can provide. The Aqaba Special Economic Zone, with its duty-free
privileges and incentives can be a perfect location for logistical
services, shipping, warehousing and re-distribution operations across
and through the region, it also can be a perfect choice for
manufacturing, packaging and exportation to many countries that enjoy
free trade arrangements with Jordan including; USA, Canada, EU and the
Arabic countries.

As
China is Jordan’s second largest trading partner, with a trade volume
of round 4.2 billion USD (2019), potential to diversify the economic
relations is very high, China’s investment in Jordan is on the increase,
in areas like energy, chemicals and consumer products including garment
manufacturing. ICT and digital technology are also areas of important
Chinese presence in Jordan lead by Huawei Corporation.

⬆   Ma’in Hot Spring

New development stage brings more opportunities for cooperation

China’s
14th Five years Social and economic plan endorsed by CPC this march
2021, puts great emphasis on the need to improve the efficiency of the
global supply chains, and this will definitely open more venues for
cooperation through Jordan’s gateway to the region and beyond. 

The
COVID 19 pandemic has made a sever negative impact on world economy
including Jordan, it slowed down growth, and increased unemployment, and
for Jordan, who’s already overwhelmed by the huge burden of millions of
Refugees on its land, the impact was even worse. Yet, facing this
pandemic and all the challenges it entails, was also a chance to renew
the bonds for friendship and solidarity among the old friends across the
globe. The exchange of medical supplies, support and solidarity rapped
with the warm bonds of friendship was of great importance to Jordan and
China, and had a remarkable impact on Jordanian and Chinese peoples
alike.  And the recent donation of vaccines to Jordan was just another
act of solidarity that was well received across Jordan.

The
Pandemic has shown that no one country can face alone such crises, and
that cooperation is a keyword in facing global challenges, it also shows
the need to cooperate and work on areas like food security, medical
care preparedness, digital economy and supply of distance services,
including education. Jordan can be a bridge for cooperation with China
in these fields, and a spring board to the region and beyond.

The
excellent medical and health care sector that makes Jordan one of the
best medical centers in the region, provides a perfect platform and an
important area for cooperation in the area of medical equipments and
supplies from China. The advanced Jordanian pharmaceutical industry can
also provide an opportunity for a possible R&D cooperation, as well
as joint production that can facilitate the regional access for Chinese
pharmaceuticals.

And
while talking about food security, whether in China, the middle East,
or anywhere in the world, fertilizers are important components for
agricultural security, and the potential for joint production in Jordan
could be one of the areas Chinese industry may consider and benefit
from.

The
wide range of consumer products of Chinese origin exported to the world
including the Middle East, makes Jordan not only an attractive
destination as a re-distribution hub, but also as a manufacturing base
that can benefit from Jordan’s free trade agreements, and its credible
access to different important markets in the world.

Opportunities
are also there in the field of tourism and entertainment, the
historical, archeological and ecological sites of Jordan not only
attracted tourists and vacationers around the clock, but also
international film production companies that found in Jordan unmatchable
locations for their unique experiences. Movies like “Martian”,
“Aladdin”, “Star Trick” could not be perfected without the magnificent
space like landscapes of Wadi Rum in the south desert of Jordan, while
the magical adventures of movies like “Indiana Jones” and “Transformers”
could not also be completed without the glamour of the sandstone carved
city of Petra. Jordan’s potential in these fields is very high, and
Chinese investments are welcome to see the difference.

Together,
Jordan and China can explore more venues for cooperation, and the
shared bonds of history that have always brought them close, will ensure
a shared future for the two countries and their peoples. The will and
desire of both, will ensure more fruits to the seeds of their friendship
in the future.

At
the dawn of its second centennial, Jordan stands with hopes and resolve
to make the next hundred years another successful story, and with its
strategic partnership with China, and their strong bonds of friendship,
Jordan is sure that the journey will be rewarding and relations will
grow stronger.

Editor | Zhang Mei

Design | Demi