Foreign minister, Romanian counterpart discuss means to enhance cooperation, efforts to de-escalate regional tensions

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Romanian Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu on Thursday discussed ways to enhance Jordanian-Romanian relations and addressed the urgent need to de-escalate regional tensions that threaten to push the region into a full-scale war.

Both ministers underlined their commitment to deepening cooperation in key areas, including education, trade, agriculture and defence, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

A key outcome of the meeting in Amman was an agreement to renew for a further four years a bilateral cultural and educational cooperation programme that provides scholarships for Jordanian students, including 26 in medicine, and other scientific disciplines.

Safadi and Odobescu also agreed to boost cooperation in food security, agriculture, fertiliser production, and cyber security, with plans to formalise this partnership through a memorandum of understanding in the first quarter of next year.

They also began preparations for the next meeting of the Jordanian-Romanian Joint Economic Committee, scheduled for mid-2025, and agreed to promote investment and business relations through the reactivation of a joint business forum.

The two ministers also planned to sign agreements in the tourism and labour sectors to promote common interests and boost cooperation in critical areas such as defence, crisis management, emergency response and healthcare.

The talks also addressed the urgent need to de-escalate regional tensions, with Safadi stressing that ending the aggression in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as addressing the serious Israeli escalation in the occupied West Bank, is essential to prevent further escalation and ensure regional and global stability.

The ministers discussed enhancing joint humanitarian efforts to provide assistance to Gaza and Lebanon. 

Safadi expressed the Kingdom's appreciation for Romania's support, noting its recognition of the State of Palestine, its contributions to UNRWA, and its support for the two-state solution as a path to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region.

Both ministers highlighted the potential for further cooperation between Amman and Bucharest and agreed to maintain an ongoing dialogue to identify priority areas for future cooperation.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation within the European Union.