His Majesty King Abdullah II begins a visit to Beijing on Monday, where he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a new milestone in relations between the two countries, amid rapidly evolving regional and international developments and more than a decade after Jordan and China announced their strategic partnership.
The talks between King Abdullah and President Xi are expected to open the door to expanding cooperation between Jordan and China across various fields, as well as coordinating positions on regional and international issues of mutual concern. The discussions will build on diplomatic relations dating back to 1977, alongside a broad network of agreements and memoranda of understanding covering political, economic, investment, educational and cultural cooperation.
The visit carries additional political significance given the convergence of Jordanian and Chinese positions on the need to reach a just and comprehensive political solution to the Palestinian issue. Jordan continues to reaffirm its commitment to the One-China principle, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and the established principles and rules of international law and the UN Charter.
Political Significance
Commenting on the significance of the King’s visit to China at this sensitive political juncture, President of the Jordanian-Chinese Friendship Association Jamal Al-Dhumour said the visit comes amid a volatile political and regional environment marked by conflicts and instability.
He noted that China views King Abdullah as a wise leader and an experienced political figure in the Arab region, and takes his views and positions seriously due to the credibility he enjoys on the Chinese side.
Al-Dhumour said China supports Arab causes and that Jordan’s support for the Palestinian cause aligns with China’s position, particularly regarding the need for a just and comprehensive political solution, an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people, and the preservation of their legitimate rights, ultimately leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the two-state solution and international legitimacy resolutions.
He pointed out that China, given its weight on the UN Security Council, has consistently supported just Arab causes.
This convergence is reinforced by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s initiatives and visions for resolving the Palestinian issue, as well as China’s continued humanitarian support for the Palestinian people. Jordan, meanwhile, continues to emphasize the centrality of the Palestinian issue, its role in protecting and safeguarding Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, and the need to achieve a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution.
Five Decades of Relations
Jordanian-Chinese relations have witnessed significant development and growth across various fields since diplomatic representation at the ambassadorial level was established in 1977, contributing to regional security and stability.
Since their establishment, relations have expanded across political, economic, military, cultural and other areas, accompanied by increasing friendly exchanges between the two countries and their peoples.
Jordan and China maintain diplomatic relations at the level of resident ambassadors. Jordan is represented in China by Ambassador Hossam Al-Husseini, while China is represented in Jordan by Ambassador Guo Wei. The two countries have also witnessed reciprocal official visits by senior Jordanian and Chinese officials.
Strategic Relations
King Abdullah’s last visit to China was in 2015, in addition to a group meeting held during the China-Arab Summit in Saudi Arabia in December 2022. The last visit by the Chinese president to Jordan was in 1984.
In line with their shared political will, and with the aim of elevating bilateral relations to a distinguished and advanced level, while strengthening friendship and continuing cooperation, Jordan and China announced during the King’s 2015 visit the establishment of a firm strategic partnership between the two countries.
They also agreed to expand cooperation, maintain continuous communication and consultation on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual concern, strengthen common ground and consolidate mutual trust.
At the ministerial level, the most recent visit by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi to China took place on November 20, 2023, accompanied by a delegation of Arab and Muslim foreign ministers to discuss the war in Gaza.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi last visited Jordan on December 15, 2025, when he was also received by King Abdullah. Discussions focused on ways to strengthen bilateral relations, as well as current international and regional developments.
The two foreign ministers also met at the UN headquarters in New York on November 30, 2023, in the presence of foreign ministers from Arab and Islamic countries.
On October 10, 2025, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi responded to a congratulatory cable sent by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Safadi and Wang Yi also held a telephone conversation on August 6, 2024, while Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs Ibrahim Al-Jazi participated in the ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in June 2024.
The first Chinese-Arab conference on civilizational dialogue was held in Amman in 1986, followed by another conference in Beijing. The initiative later developed into a broader institutional framework represented by the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum.
Educational Cooperation
Jamal Al-Dhumour said Jordanian universities have begun receiving increasing numbers of Chinese students, adding that Chinese is now taught in Jordan alongside English as a second foreign language.
Speaking to Al Mamlaka, he highlighted Jordan’s contribution to spreading scientific and cultural awareness among Chinese students who returned to China after earning bachelor’s degrees in Arabic language.
He stressed that education in Jordan is of great importance to the Chinese side, which views Jordanian students as distinguished and possessing broad cultural knowledge.
Around 1,900 Jordanians live in China, including 380 students, while approximately 1,000 Chinese nationals live in Jordan.
Bilateral Agreements
Jordanian-Chinese relations have seen the signing of numerous agreements and memoranda of understanding covering political, economic, investment, technical, cultural, educational, energy and transportation fields, reflecting the broadening scope of cooperation between the two countries. Among the most prominent are:
* A memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Offices of the Public Prosecutor in Jordan and China, signed on May 13, 2024.
* A memorandum of understanding on the translation and publication of classical books, signed on August 1, 2023.
* A memorandum of understanding on implementing the Belt and Road Initiative, signed in November 2023.
* Air transport services agreement, 2018.
* Cultural and tourism friendship twinning agreement between Petra and Jiayuguan.
* Cultural cooperation agreement, 2017.
* Agreement on mutual recognition of certificates of competency for maritime ship crew members, 2016.
* Memorandum of understanding on establishing a Chinese-Jordanian technical school in Jordan, 2015.
* Memorandum of understanding on implementing the national railway project, with a total value of $2.3 billion, 2015.
* Economic and technical cooperation agreement worth $20.5 million in annual grants to finance the Salt–Arda Road and the Chinese-Jordanian technical school, 2015.
* Memorandum of understanding on establishing a Chinese industrial city in Aqaba, valued at $700 million, 2015.
* Framework agreement to generate 1 gigawatt of solar and wind power, valued at $1.5 billion, 2015.
* Agreement to finance the Jordanian oil shale project, valued at $2.1 billion, 2015.
* Agreement between Guangdong Corporation and Attarat Power Company (APCO) to establish a 554-megawatt oil shale-fired power plant, 2014.
* Memorandum of understanding between the Jordanian government, represented by the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, and Huawei to train and qualify newly graduated engineers, 2013.
* Agreement with SEPCO III to generate electricity from oil shale, 2013.
* Agreement with Goldwind to generate electricity from wind power.
* Agreement on developing free zones in Jordan, 2013.
* Cooperation agreement between China’s State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television and the Jordan Radio and Television Corporation, 2013.
* News cooperation and exchange agreement between the Jordan News Agency (Petra) and China’s Xinhua News Agency, 2010.
* Investment cooperation memorandum between the Jordan Investment Promotion Corporation and the Yijiehongtai Development Group in Xiamen, 2010.
* Investment cooperation memorandum between the Jordan Investment Promotion Corporation and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, 2009.
* Investment cooperation memorandum between the Jordan Investment Promotion Corporation and the China Development Bank, 2007.
* Cooperation agreement between the Jordanian Writers Association and the Chinese Writers Association, 2005.
* Labor cooperation agreement, 2005.
* Economic and technical cooperation agreement, 2004.
* Agreement on the promotion and protection of mutual investments, 2001.
* Sports cooperation agreement, 1995.
* Civil aviation agreement, 1992.
* Agreement establishing the Joint Committee for Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation, 1983.
* Trade agreement, 1979.
* Cultural and scientific cooperation agreement, 1979.
* Economic and trade agreement, 1978.
* Sports cooperation agreement, 1975.
* Air transport regulation agreement, 1975.
Al Mamlaka
