With a theme of Once in a Blue Moon: the Belt and Road Initiative and Jordan 2025, the First China-Jordan Friendly Dialogue was held at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) on Dec 22.

BFSU hosts the First China-Jordan Friendly Dialogue in an online and offline forum on Dec 22. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

Government officials and industry leaders in trade, culture, education and business circles of the two countries and representatives from the School of Arabic Studies at BFSU attended the event. 

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the centenary of the founding of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Holding the dialogue at this historic moment aims to deepen bilateral cooperation, promote cultural exchanges and achieve mutual benefit and common prosperity.

BFSU representatives meet with guests from China and Jordan. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

Yang Dan, president of BFSU, delivers a welcome speech at the First China-Jordan Friendly Dialogue on Dec 22. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

Yang Dan, deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and president of the university, delivered a welcome speech. Yang noted that holding the dialogue marks a critical milestone for China and Jordan to embark on a new journey and embrace a new era. The dialogue’s topics highlighted the process from consultation to collaboration between the two countries since the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was proposed.

According to Yang, BFSU will focus on global languages, culture and governance, leverage its strengths to present the real and comprehensive image of China and help China to better reach out to the world. The university will also advance the BRI and Jordan’s Vision 2025.

Other speakers included Chen Chuandong, China’s ambassador to Jordan, Hussam Al Husseini, Jordan’s ambassador to China, Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Publishing Group (CIPG), Bai Tao, chairman of State Development and Investment Corp (SDIC), Samir Habashneh, chairman of the Jordan-China Non-governmental Cultural Cooperation Commission, Shehadah Abu Hdaib, chairman of Jordan’s Arab Potash Company, Wu Sike, China’s former special envoy on Middle East affairs, and Bilal Al Hammouri, director of the Promotion Department at the Jordan Investment Commission. 

Experts and scholars said they believe that since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1977, China-Jordan relations have maintained a momentum of steady development. Both sides have witnessed notable progress in energy, communication, transportation, agriculture, green economy, digital economy, intelligent manufacturing, clothing, electronic products, information technology and education cooperation. Mutual assistance in face of COVID-19 has brought the cooperative partnership to a higher level. 

Both sides will focus on people’s livelihoods, facilitate win-win cooperation, promote cultural exchanges, expand conversations and intensify mutual learning to maintain peace, stability and common development in the Middle East, further implement the BRI and build a community with a shared future for mankind. The dialogue will start a new chapter of cooperation between the two countries, said representatives.

Organizers of the First China-Jordan Friendly Dialogue present books to representatives from China and Arab countries. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

Following the speeches, Liu Dawei, vice-president of the CIPG, and Zhong Guodong, vice-chairman of the SDIC, presented the Arabic edition of A Bright Shared Future, a book published by the Foreign Language Press showcasing real stories in BRI projects, to eight representatives from China and Arab countries. 

Yang and Husseini presented Studies on Jordanian Culture and Education to representatives. The book, produced with the guidance of Wang Dinghua, secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, is expected to give Chinese readers insights into the history, culture, education and technology of Jordan.

Experts and representatives exchange views on China-Jordan cooperation at the round-table conference. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

At a round-table conference themed on New Visions and New Opportunities: Future of China-Jordan Cooperation, Chinese and foreign representatives had in-depth discussions on China-Jordan partnership and bilateral economic and trade relations in the new global context.

At a round-table conference themed on Pragmatic Collaboration and Win-win Results: Cases of China-Jordan Economic and Trade Cooperation, representatives from business circles shared experiences and exchanged views on conducting cooperation projects and practicing social responsibility in the two countries.