| King Abdullah says businessmen are key to Jordan-China partnership |
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| Tuesday,November 06,2007 Posted: 02:31 BJT(1831 GMT) |
| From:Jordan Times Article type:Reproduced |
His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday stressed the importance of the partnership between Jordan and China, underlining the key role of businessmen in this regard.
“Our countries are building a partnership that is productive and rewarding, for both sides. And business leaders like you are vital to that success,” King Abdullah said in his address at the Jordanian Investment Forum that was held yesterday in Shanghai and attended by representatives of major Chinese enterprises.
Organised by the Jordan Investment Board (JIB), in cooperation with China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the forum witnessed the signing of six memoranda of understanding (MoU) in the presence of King Abdullah.
Representatives of Jordanian and Chinese companies also signed joint investment agreements to set up industrial investment projects at an initial value of approximately $150 million.
The MoUs and the agreements signed between the two sides were in the fields of business and communications technologies, automobile manufacturing and assembly, energy equipment and construction.
Underlining the significance of the Jordanian-Chinese cooperation and the drive towards reform, the King told the forum: “China and Jordan are both on a dynamic path of reform. And we in Jordan look to China’s experience as a significant development model.”
“We especially recognise the contributions of China’s business community... not only as a driver of growth... but as a conduit to the benefits of the global economy,” the King said in describing the Chinese business community.
The monarch highlighted the Jordanian national strategy, indicating that it has targeted key areas to support opportunity and growth.
“One priority is Jordan’s human-resource base,” he emphasised. “We are therefore investing heavily in education, putting special emphasis on market–oriented training - vocational and technical skills - to provide employers a capable and ready workforce.”
He pointed out that “a positive business environment” was the Kingdom’s second priority.
“A third priority is to leverage our strategic central location in West Asia, to help Jordan-based business reach the 300 million people of the Arab World, and millions more in other major markets,” the King told the Chinese businessmen.
On limited natural resources in the Kingdom, the Monarch said: “We are dealing proactively to overcome our limited natural resources. By better managing water resources, and increasing supply through desalination, while providing new solar, wind, and nuclear energy sources, Jordan’s future development will be secured.”
Emphasising the significance of the Jordanian-Chinese joint cooperation, he encouraged China’s participation and partnership in this future.
To advance such efforts, the King announced in his address that the JIB will establish an office in Beijing.
The forum was attended by HRH Princess Raya, the King’s Office Director Bassem Awadallah, Industry and Trade Minister Salem Khazaaleh, and Information and Communications Technology Minister Bassem Roussan and Jordanian Ambassador to China Anmar Hmoud, directors of several major Chinese companies and several members of the Chinese business community.
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