AMMAN, April 23 : His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Jordanian King Abdullah II held an official session of talks Tuesday, at Basman Palace. During the talks, both sides touched on the deep-rooted bilateral ties between the two countries and ways of boosting cooperation to serve the aspirations of the two peoples. His Highness the Amir congratulated King Abdullah II on the 25th anniversary of his coronation, praising Jordan’s achievements under his wise leadership. The talks were attended by His Highness the Amir’s official delegation.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and an official delegation accompanying him arrived on Tuesday in Jordan on a state visit. His Highness the Amir was received by Jordanian King Abdullah II and the Crown Prince Al-Hussein bin Abdullah. His Highness the Amir was accompanied by an official delegation that included the Minister of Finance, the Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment, Anwar Ali Al-Mudhaf, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, and senior officials in the Amiri Diwan. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah received Al-Hussein Necklace from Jordanian King Abdullah II.

Al-Hussein Necklace is the highest civilian medal in the Kingdom of Jordan. Following the ceremony, Jordan’s King Abdullah II held a banquet in honor of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and his accompanying delegation on the occasion of the state visit. Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Nobels Parliament, Faisal Al-Fayez and speaker of the House of Representative in Jordan, Ahmad Al-Safadi both stressed the importance of the visit of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to Jordan.

In a statement to KUNA, the two speakers stressed the depth of the historical relations between the two countries and Jordan’s keenness to strengthen bilateral relations with Kuwait in various fields for the interest of the two nations. Speaker Faisal Al-Fayez said in a statement to KUNA that the visit of His Highness the Amir to Jordan comes within the framework of joint Arab action between Kuwait and Jordan to enhance bilateral relations, reaffirm their solidity, expand cooperation and discuss various regional issues and unify positions regarding those issues.

Al-Fayez said that Kuwaiti-Jordanian relations constitute a model in joint Arab action and that there was constant communication and coordination between His Highness the Amir and King Abdullah II to strengthen bilateral relations and discuss various regional issues and everything that would serve the causes of Arab nations and end the Israeli aggression against Palestine. He stressed Jordan’s keenness to strengthen bilateral relations with Kuwait in various fields, noting that the significant development witnessed in enhancing the relations were due to the directives of the leaderships.

Al-Fayez applauded the state of security and stability Kuwait enjoyed and the great development it is witnessing in various fields thanks to the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir and his keenness on the security and stability of his homeland. He also praised Kuwait’s positions towards Jordan and expressed his gratitude to His Highness the Amir and the Kuwaiti people for the constant support and assistance to Jordan in confronting economic challenges. Al-Fayez also commended His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and his position towards Arab issues and Arab unity and the return of security and stability to the region.

On his part, Speaker of the House of Representative, Ahmad Al-Safadi said that the Kuwaiti-Jordanian relationship constitutes a model in the strong relations built on trust, respect and coordination at the highest levels. He pointed out that Kuwait and Jordan have common destiny, close cooperation, and enjoy leaderships who prioritize their nations’ issues and interests above everything, he said that Kuwait and Jordan hold common positions and visions of what the Arab stance should be towards the Palestinian issue, by adhering to the two-state solution.

Speaker Al-Safadi stressed that Kuwait and Jordan are blessed with wise leaderships whose concern is always to achieve security and peace for their people and bridge the gap between the Arab nations. Al-Safadi stressed the importance of the positions of the leadership of both countries and stressing that Kuwait and Amman firmly believe in the strength of the Arab nations and their ability to face all challenges. He stated that Jordan highly appreciates Kuwait for its continuous support for Jordan, stressing the unity of destiny and future of Kuwait and Jordan. His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Sabah’s visit to Jordan encapsulates the recent progress seen in bilateral relations, in addition to Kuwait’s rising prominence and growing clout on a regional level. His Highness the Amir’s visit to the Hashemite Kingdom encapsulates a common desire to propel ties to greater levels, given the historic camaraderie and values shared by the two Arab nations, while more growth in ties would simultaneously serve the best interests of Kuwait and Amman.

Since bilateral relations commenced in earnest back in 1961, some 73 joint deals and agreements covering a myriad of fields had come to fruition, in a testament to the two countries’ shared viewpoints on current developments around the region, chief among the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Lawmakers from Kuwait and Jordan have ramped up diplomacy in a bid to serve the best interests of the wider Arab region, while the two countries have vociferously shored up support for the Palestinains in regional and international gatherings, in a bid to demonstrate their committment to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. A spate of joint high-profile visits by Kuwaiti and Jordanian leaders has given impetus to more headway in bilateral relations, while Amman and Kuwait have constantly cited the “Palestinian cause” as the Arab world’s core concern, taking precedence over a host of other pressing matters in the region. Kuwaiti investments in Jordan are worth some KD three billion, with bilateral trade volume skyrocketing to KD 67 million (USD 218 million), while Kuwaiti philanthropists have left their mark on the Hashemite kingdom with a slew of charitable projects aiming to aid the country’s impoverished.

On the military front, a number of joint drills have brought the two countries’ respective armies closer together, with educational ties also seeing growth in the number of Kuwaiti students pursuing higher studies in the Hashemite Kindgom. While the number of joint deals signed over the years have been innumerable, some of the most notable ones include a regulatory aviation agreement in 1975, in addition to a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement signed in 1985. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s state visit to Jordan reflects the strong, deep-rooted bonds the two nations share, Jordan’s Ambassador to Kuwait Sinan Al-Majali said on Monday. In a statement to KUNA, Al-Majali added His Highness Amir’s visit to Jordan on Tuesday marks his first state visit outside the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), indicating Jordan’s significance to Kuwait. The well-established Kuwaiti-Jordanian bond in economic, political, and social aspects demonstrates the strong bilateral relations the two nations share. They also share most regional and global issues, especially the Palestinian cause, prioritizing it politically, noted Al-Majali. Al-Majali affirmed King of Jordan Abdullah II’s cooperation and coordination of the state visit, where His Highness the Amir and King Abdullah II will discuss issues concerning the two nations’ security, stability, and regional prosperity. In regards to trade and the two nations’ economies, Al-Majali affirmed that these topics will be given great attention as Kuwaiti investments are considered the largest in Jordan, stressing the opportunity for further investments(KUNA)