Syrian - Jordanian joint committee meets in Amman
Chaired by Syrian Prime Minister Mahmoud al-Zou'bi and his Jordanian counterpart, Abdul Raouf al-Rawabdeh, meetings of the joint Syrian - Jordanian higher committee started in Amman on Monday evening.
On the Syrian side, the meeting was attended by the deputy premier for economic affairs, the ministers of the economy and foreign trade, the state minister for foreign affairs, the industry, and transport ministers, the chairman of the chamber of commerce and industry in Syria, Rateb al-Shallah, and technicians concerned, while the Jordanian side was attended by the deputy premier and minister of planning, state minister for foreign affairs, the agriculture, communication, transport and finance ministers, and the chairman of the Amman Chamber of Industry, Khaldoun Abu Hassan, and technicians involved.
At the conclusion of Monday's session of the higher Syrian - Jordanian joint committee press statements were made in which the two premiers praised relations between the two Arab states.
Al-Zou'bi said the relations between the two states are witnessing a notable development. "We have discussed today means of developing economic and service relations and increasing commercial exchanges as well," the Jordanian Premier said, adding, "Relations between the two countries were discussed today."
He said, "It is our duty to enhance relations of economic cooperation, because we live in a world of huge (economic) blocs," noting that there is no state that can protect its rights and future unless it is a part of an active economic bloc to pave the way for the establishment of the Arab free trade zone.
He continued that the meeting is taking place in the course of developing bilateral relations in the economic and commercial areas and joint projects, alike. He added that officials in both states have exerted great efforts to achieve positive results, noting that the march of the Syrian-Jordanian cooperation is linked to the aspirations of the Arab people in the two states.
During their meeting, members of the two delegations reviewed commercial, economic, scientific and cultural cooperation.
Earlier in the day, the Syrian premier and members of his accompanying delegation arrived in Amman and were welcomed at the airport by al-Rawabdeh. In an arrival statement to reporters, the Syrian premier said that the agenda of the joint committee includes several topics that would push forward the march of bilateral relations at the directives of President al-Assad and King Abdullah.
He continued, "There is no doubt that the Syrian - Jordanian cooperation will be a chain of joint cooperation through which we can give the best example for closer cooperation between any two Arab states. All Arabs in this world, which is full of changes and developments even surprises, have to be economically, socially and economically integrated in order to face the challenges of the current age, as a one united force."