Tashkent: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs Ayman Safadi held expanded talks in Tashkent on Monday with Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov. The discussions focused on enhancing bilateral relations and expanding cooperation across priority sectors. This initiative follows a roadmap agreed upon during His Majesty King Abdullah II's visit to Uzbekistan and his talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in August 2025.
According to Jordan News Agency, the ministers reviewed the progress made in implementing the outcomes of the royal visit and affirmed their ongoing efforts to finalize around 20 agreements and memoranda of understanding. These agreements cover a wide range of fields including trade, economic, agricultural, water, municipalities, pharmaceuticals, energy, health, tourism, cultural, investment, and defense. Signatures on these agreements are anticipated during President Mirziyoyev's planned visit to Jordan before the end of the year.
Safadi and Saidov highlighted a series of follow-up meetings between officials from both countries. These meetings aim to broaden cooperation and include a September 2025 visit by an Uzbek government and private-sector delegation to Jordan, the first session of the Jordanian-Uzbek Joint Ministerial Committee in April, and the recent signing of a visa exemption agreement. These initiatives are intended to facilitate trade, economic, tourism, and cultural exchanges between the two nations.
Furthermore, the ministers noted the launch of Royal Jordanian's direct flights between Amman and Tashkent, with the inaugural service scheduled for June 30, 2026. They also discussed the establishment of the Jordanian-Uzbek Joint Business Council, created under an agreement signed by the countries' chambers of commerce on February 16, 2026.
A significant outcome of the talks was the agreement to prepare for the inaugural Jordanian-Uzbek Business Forum. This forum is expected to promote investment, deepen economic cooperation, and strengthen private-sector partnerships. Both ministers acknowledged the continued growth in bilateral trade and stressed the importance of building on this momentum to increase trade volume and mutual investment.
Additionally, they agreed to hold the third round of political consultations between the two foreign ministries during the final quarter of the year. These consultations will follow up on the implementation of the royal visit's outcomes and complete preparations for President Mirziyoyev's visit to Jordan.
Regional developments were also on the agenda, with both ministers emphasizing the need to support efforts aimed at ending escalation and enhancing security and stability in the region. This is particularly relevant following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran.
On the Palestinian issue, Safadi and Saidov underscored the necessity for stability in the Gaza Strip. They stressed the importance of ensuring a sufficient, sustained, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to alleviate the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The ministers reaffirmed the need to achieve a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution.
The talks concluded with an emphasis on the growing momentum in bilateral relations. Both ministers pledged to continue expanding cooperation in line with the directives of their countries' leaderships and reaffirmed their commitment to continued coordination within international organizations, including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
During his visit to Tashkent, Safadi also visited the Center of Islamic Civilization, which officially opened in March and is regarded as one of Uzbekistan's leading cultural and civilizational projects.