PM arrives in Jordan, says bilateral relations to get fillip

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held delegation-level talks with King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein at the Al Husseiniya Palace in Amman, reaffirming India’s commitment to deepening ties with Jordan across diverse sectors.

Earlier, on his arrival at the Amman airport, Modi was received by Jordanian Prime Minister Dr Jafar Hassan and accorded a ceremonial welcome — a gesture reflecting the warmth in bilateral relations.

This visit marks the first full-fledged bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Jordan in 37 years. It also forms the first leg of Modi’s three-nation tour, covering Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

Expressing gratitude for the warm welcome, Modi said, “You have shared very positive ideas for taking India-Jordan relations to new heights. I sincerely thank you for your friendship and your deep commitment to India.”

Highlighting that the year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the PM said the milestone would “inspire us to move forward with renewed energy for many years to come”.

Modi noted that both sides were keen to enhance cooperation in trade, fertilisers, digital technology, infrastructure and people-to-people exchanges. Commending Jordan’s stand on regional stability, he said, “You have played a very active and positive role on the issue of Gaza from the very beginning. We all hope that peace and stability will prevail in the region.”

He also underlined India and Jordan’s “common and clear stance against terrorism”, praising King Abdullah’s efforts to promote moderation and counter extremism. “Under your leadership, Jordan has sent a strong and strategic message to humanity against terrorism, extremism, and radicalisation,” he said.

Recalling past engagements, Modi mentioned the King’s visit to India in 2018 and their first meeting in 2015 at a UN event on countering violent extremism. Welcoming Modi to Amman, King Abdullah said, “We warmly welcome the signing of the agreements and MoUs during your visit, as they will further advance our cooperation and open new avenues for collaboration.” He expressed optimism about the Jordan-India Business Forum, scheduled for tomorrow, describing it as “an opportunity to discuss partnerships and joint investments in vital sectors.”