Ambassador of China Highlights "Jordan's Role as a Host for Chinese Investments"

 

AMMAN – Under the patronage of HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Knowledge Forum (TAGKF) hosted HE Mr. Pan Weifang, the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Jordan in a panel discussion entitled “Jordan as a Host for Chinese Investments: Sectors, Methods, and Parties".

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh welcomed the Ambassador and stressed the deep relations between Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org) and the People's Republic of China which has reflected on cooperation in many fields. He expressed pride for receiving the “Award for Outstanding Efforts to Support Arab-China Friendship" by the President of the People's Republic of China, HE Mr. Xi Jinping in 2016. He also expressed appreciation for the visit of HE Dr. Liu Yandong, Vice Premier of China to Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Confucius Institute (TAG-Confucius) and Talal Abu-Ghazaleh University (TAGI-UNI) during her official visit to Jordan last April.

 

He also expressed pride of the cooperative relations between TAG-Org and China, noting that TAG-Org provides many services through its offices in Jordan; it is the only authorized party in Jordan that receives visa applications and delivers visas to applicants under the supervision and with the approval of the Chinese authorities. It is also accredited to teach Chinese language in Jordan through TAG-Confucius. Additionally, TAG-Org has three offices in China: Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong. Moreover, Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property (AGIP) is proudly the only non-Chinese company that has been licensed to operate in Shanghai since 2003.

 

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh thanked the government of China for selecting AGIP as one of the Top Ten Intellectual Property Firms in China, and for the award of Best Trademark Agent which was granted to AGIP during a special ceremony held by China Intellectual Property Forum under the theme of "Best Practices of Quality and Value" at China National Convention Center.

 

For his part, Ambassador Weifang stressed the deep relations between China and Jordan, and the strategic location of Jordan in the region, especially with the availability of qualified human cadres and the safe and stable environment it enjoys. 

 

He expressed appreciation for the support and facilities provided by His Majesty King Abdullah II to attract Chinese investments to Jordan, and making the Kingdom a gateway to the regional and global markets, stressing that the strategic relation between Jordan and China is a model of what relations should be between countries.

He affirmed that the relation between the two countries is based on mutual respect, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and friendship relation, generation after generation. He also referred to the cooperative relations with Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh.

 

Mr. Weifang also stated that Jordan is distinguished by its strategic location because it links countries of Asia, Africa, and Europe, which makes it an ideal place for regional and global investments and an export gateway to the world, especially with the international and regional free trade agreements it is party of, and the economic, development, free, and industrial zones and business parks it has.

He added that Jordan's investment environment is attractive to Chinese investors from east and west, and that Jordan could host investors wishing to participate in the reconstruction process of Syria.

 

He also referred to the fields of economic cooperation relating to economic, cultural, and touristic projects including the pipeline between the Iraqi city of Basra and the Jordanian city of Aqaba, the rock oil project, the expansion of the oil refinery, the railway, the Jordan–Chinese University, the renewable energy projects, the glass industry, the Bahrain Canal, etc…, noting that Chinese investments in Jordan amount to tens of billions.

He added that Jordan is one of the most popular touristic destinations for the Chinese people, and that the number of Chinese visiting Jordan is constantly increasing. 

 

He noted that Chinese government has provided Jordan with economic and humanitarian aid in various fields including water supply projects, and housing and road projects. It has also contributed in mitigating burdens that Jordan carries because of hosting Syrian refugees by providing urgent humanitarian assistance, both directly and through international organizations.

 

Mr. Muhannad Shehadeh, Minister of State for Investment Affairs and Chairman of the Investment Commission stressed on the historical relations between Jordan and the People's Republic of China, noting that the Commission is ready to further cooperate and enhance the bilateral economic relations by communicating with investment institutions to implement projects that benefit both countries.