Jordan's King begins Tuesday state visit to China with economic focus

Jordanian King Abdullah II begins a state visit to China on Tuesday, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, focusing on enhancing cooperation, particularly in the economic sphere, according to announcements by both sides.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release that the King “will make a state visit to China from August 18 to 24.”

Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the King and the Chinese President “will exchange views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common interest.”

He added, “China is ready to work with Jordan to seize this visit as an opportunity to enhance mutual political trust, expand cooperation based on mutual benefit… and make a positive contribution to peace, stability, and development in the region.”

The Jordanian Royal Court confirmed that the King will meet with senior Chinese officials and a number of “representatives of major Chinese companies to discuss opportunities for expanding economic cooperation,” with the visit expected to include the signing of “a number of cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding in various fields.”

The visit comes amid ongoing tensions in the wake of the war in the Middle East, during which the US-allied kingdom has been targeted by missile and drone attacks originating from Iran.

China is one of the largest buyers of Iranian oil and has positioned itself as a neutral party in the dispute between Washington and Tehran, which began in February, calling for the guarantee of freedom of navigation in the vital Strait of Hormuz for global oil and gas supplies.

This is the ninth visit by King Abdullah since he ascended the throne in 1999, and will include the cities of Shanghai and Shenzhen.