5. Why is the Jordanian Chinese University program suspended?
The Chinese Jordanian University is a major collaboration project between the two countries, involving teaching arrangements, student training, employment guidance, construction and operation, management mode, etc. It is neither an ordinary economic cooperation project nor an ordinary project of cultural and educational cooperation. It requires in-depth and comprehensive examination as well as close consultations and coordination between the two sides.
Since the establishment of the project, China and Jordan have worked hard to advance the project and made some progress. However, the two sides have yet to reach full agreement, especially on some specific details. They not only include technical issues, but also call for alignment of education doctrines and policies. Further exchange of views are needed to find solutions. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, personnel exchanges between the two countries have encountered great difficulties, which has also hampered progress of the project.
I wish to emphasize that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the Chinese Jordanian University project and has been trying every means to push forward the project. Even in the absence of full agreement, the Chinese government established the “Special Scholarship for Chinese Jordanian University” in 2016 to support Jordanian students to study in China in a bid to train a pool of talents for the project.
The scholarship has enrolled students for 6 consecutive years, and enrollment for 2021 has just completed with 132 students enrolled. Therefore, the project has not been suspended, but rather advanced steadily. I would take this opportunity to encourage more Jordanian high school graduates to apply for the “Special Scholarship for Chinese Jordanian University” in the future, so as to gather momentum and create favorable conditions for the launch of Chinese Jordanian University.
6. Anything the Ambassador would like to add?
COVID-19 is a common challenge for all countries in the world. It reminds the world in a special way that mankind is a community with a shared future, and that no country can stay immune from a major crisis, solidarity and cooperation is the right way forward for mankind. In the fight against COVID-19, China and Jordan have stood together and helped each other through thick and thin, demonstrating deep brotherly friendship between our people and long-standing good relationship between our two countries.
We should seize the opportunities and take proactive steps to translate our confidence and resolve into greater energy for cooperation. We need further promote steady growth of bilateral trade, vigorously promote mutual investment, make human resources training more effective, and do our best to facilitate mobility of businesses, jointly opening up brighter prospect for economic and trade cooperation between our two countries.
Jordan is a country of unique status and important influence in the Middle East. China views Jordan as a major partner in the region and is ready to work with Jordan and other Arab brotherly countries, taking advantage of the first China-Arab Summit scheduled for 2022, to advance Belt and Road cooperation. We should work together to safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East, uphold fairness and justice, promote common development, and learn from each other, in a joint effort to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in a world undergoing profound and historic changes.
News media is an important bridge for exchanges between countries and a bond for dialogue among civilizations and enhancing mutual trust and friendship. I hope that Chinese and Jordanian media will make positive contributions to deepening mutual understanding and friendship between our peoples, promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and make the common voice of developing countries better heard.
Source: Jordan News Agency