Jordan, Iraq Agree to Cooperate in Trade, Energy Fields

Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh arrived on Thursday in Iraq's capital Baghdad and held bilateral talks with his Iraqi counterpart Mustafa Kadhimi.

A statement by the media office of Kadhimi said the two officials discussed boosting ties and cooperation in various fields, especially in energy and trade. They also highlighted the importance of coordination among Iraq, Jordan and Egypt.

The two sides affirmed the importance of strengthening joint cooperation between Baghdad and Amman, in a way that achieves the interests of the peoples of the two brotherly countries, and affirms the depth of brotherly relations and ties between Iraq and Jordan,” the statement said.

The Jordanian and Iraqi sides stressed the importance of the joint economic city, which work is underway to complete the procedures to start implementing the project on the borders between the two countries.

During his visit, Khasawneh also conveyed King Abdullah II's message to Iraqi President Barham Salih, which reaffirmed the depth of the brotherly relations between the two countries and ways to further boost them.

An Iraqi presidential statement said Salih affirmed his keenness to develop the framework of cooperation between the two sides, and Iraq’s aspiration to build advanced relations and raise the level of cooperation with Jordan to serve the common interests of the two brotherly peoples, and to move towards broader horizons by strengthening the understandings and protocols agreed upon between the two countries.

On coordination with Egypt, the two sides stressed the importance of building strategic relations based on common interests, to confront the challenges of terrorism and extremism, reduce regional tensions and achieve peace and stability in the region.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Dr. Fadel Al-Badrani, a Media Professor at the Iraqi University said the Iraqi-Jordanian meeting, which marked the first visit by Khasawneh to Baghdad, aims to boost the level of coordination between the two sides at the political, economic, trade and energy.

He also said that Jordan relies on Iraq to import oil at low prices amid the financial crisis.