On Thursday, Jordan and Palestine signed 9 agreements and memoranda of understanding; economic, logistical, infrastructure, transportation, agricultural, and information technology issues; To enhance cooperation between the two countries, in the presence of Prime Ministers Bishr Al-Khasawneh and Muhammad Shtayyeh.

The Jordanian and Palestinian sides signed 9 memoranda of understanding and executive programs, at the conclusion of the meetings of the Joint Higher Committee, which covered many areas. The two prime ministers also signed the minutes of the meetings of the sixth session of the joint committee.

The memoranda and executive programs that were signed included a memorandum of understanding in the field of social development, the executive program for cultural cooperation between the two governments for the years 2022-2025, the executive program for educational cooperation for the years 2022-2024, and a memorandum of understanding between the two countries for cooperation in the field of free zones.

It also included the memorandum of understanding on electronic linkage between the two sides and the executive program of the cooperation protocol between the Ministry of Youth and the Palestinian Supreme Council for Youth and Sports in the youth field, a joint cooperation program between the Jordan News Agency (Petra) and the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), and the executive program for activating the technical cooperation protocol between the Ministry of Investment in Jordan and the Palestinian Investment Promotion Agency and the Executive Program of the Memorandum of Understanding for the mutual recognition of certificates of conformity and quality marks.

The Palestinian Prime Minister said that Al-Khasawneh’s visit is “a fingerprint in the history of Palestine”, as its timing is important, and we are living in a difficult circumstance regarding the political curve with the Israeli occupation, and the Corona virus crisis.

He pointed out that Jordan and Palestine are joint in preserving Jerusalem, saying: “We salute the effort made by His Majesty King Abdullah II in sponsoring Islamic and Christian holy sites, caring for the city of Jerusalem and caring for the Palestinian issue.”

He added that Palestine is a constant element on the agenda of His Majesty the King in all forums.

He drew attention to the fact that the two governments are working for the interest of Jordan and Palestine, as the two countries are involved in many issues, and we are working to end the Israeli occupation and the establishment of the State of Palestine, and to preserve the Palestine Liberation Organization, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.

Shtayyeh stressed that maintaining Jordanian security, which is an essential part of the Palestinian security interest.

And between “Jordan’s interests we want to preserve”, as the trade balance does not meet the ambitions of the two countries, as the technical teams of the two countries worked at a high pace to meet the ambition.

He added that the two countries’ ambitions are to raise the “Jordanian-Palestinian trade balance to the highest ceiling,” and work is being done to remove all obstacles facing trade between the two countries.

Shtayyeh stressed that the Palestinian markets are open, Jordanian businessmen are welcome, the Jordanian product is welcome, and the Palestinian product is welcome in Jordan.

And he indicated that there is a Jordanian-Palestinian company to market the agricultural product, saying: “We do not compete in the product, but rather we complement each other, and the company may be a pioneering experience in heading towards Arab and international markets in order to deliver Palestinian goods.

Shtayyeh thanked Jordan’s position regarding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

He said, “Maintaining the agency is important, and the agency constitutes the cumulative memory of the Palestinian people, not only in terms of providing service to the camp, but what it actually constitutes of a cumulative memory of the Palestinian issue.”

Al-Khasawneh headed the Jordanian delegation in the meetings of the Jordanian-Palestinian Higher Committee, which discussed over the course of 3 days the expansion of trade exchange and the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries.

The Prime Minister received an official reception upon his arrival in Ramallah, and was received by Shtayyeh, ministers and officials. The Jordanian royal anthem was played, and the Palestinian national anthem was played. Al-Khasawneh reviewed the guard of honor that had lined up to greet him.

The spokesman for the Palestinian government, Ibrahim Melhem, welcomed the visit of Al-Khasawneh, and told:The kingdomThe Palestinian-Jordanian Joint Committee “had important talks on the level of many areas of joint cooperation in trade, industry, investment, agriculture, health, labor, energy, information technology, transportation and private sector affairs.”

He pointed out that “the meetings included issues concerning about 30 vital areas of cooperation between the two countries that would establish a relationship of cooperation and open up broader horizons to open the Palestinian markets to Jordanian goods and merchandise, especially strategic ones such as oil, cement and electricity; In order to replace Israeli goods and products within the framework of the gradual Palestinian disengagement from the Israeli occupation.”

Melhem pointed out that the agreements are the broadest in years and the most important, and that Al-Khasawneh’s visit derives from the critical political moment facing the Palestinian cause in light of the escalation of settlements, violations of sanctities in Jerusalem, land confiscation, field executions, and all these Israeli behaviors.

Chief of Staff of the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ahmad Al-Deek told:The kingdom“The meeting comes within the framework of the historical relations between the two countries, under the support of the leaderships of the two countries, His Majesty King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The spokesman for the Palestinian government stated that it was agreed on the necessity of setting timetables for follow-up and evaluation based on executive plans and reports to measure results and a central database for all activities and achievements that have been achieved and those that are expected to be achieved between the Jordanian and Palestinian sides.

Al-Khasawneh was accompanied by the Ministers of Trade, Industry, Supply, Agriculture, Transport, Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Energy and Mineral Resources.