Jordan and Chile on Monday signed four cooperation accords that are expected to take bilateral ties between the two countries to the next level.
The deals were signed in the presence of His Majesty King Abdullah and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet a day after the King, accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Rania and a high-ranking official and business delegation, arrived in Santiago in the first leg of a Latin American tour that will also include Argentina and Brazil.
The accords aim at expanding cooperation in the fields of tourism, public works, science, and investment promotion and protection.
At a meeting with Bachelet, the King and the Chilean leader agreed that there is considerable common ground between the two sides they can build on to expand scope of cooperation.
The two leaders also underlined the role of the private sector in the drive towards better trade and economic ties, with Bachelet commending the participation of Jordanian businesspeople in the delegation.
In an interview with the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Jordan Investment Board CEO Maan Nsour said the Chilean market is a promising one due to the country's strong economy, which provides Jordanian products with an opportunity to enter this market.
He said the memo signed between the investment entities between the two countries will increase the volume of mutual investments and boost economic ties, noting that Chilean businesspeople are interested in investing in copper, which is found in large quantities in Wadi Araba.
Nsour said Jordan is interested in starting business relationships with Chile, adding that a Jordanian Business Forum in Chile is scheduled to take place in Santiago tomorrow to review investment opportunities in Jordan and build partnerships with Chilean businesspeople.
Following a one-on-one meeting, the King and the Chilean president were joined by officials from both sides for discussions, during which His Majesty extended an invitation to Bachelet to visit Jordan, which the president described as “a gateway to the Middle East” apart from being a regional investment and economic hub.
Jordan and Chile, whose diplomatic ties are more than half a century old, are members in the World Trade Organisation and each has entered a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US, a matter which provides more room for greater cooperation, especially since Chile is bound by FTAs with 57 countries.
The two sides reviewed prospects of cooperation in the fields of tourism, alternative energy, transportation and joint investments.
Trade volume between the two countries, which celebrated the golden jubilee on the establishment of diplomatic ties four years ago, stands at less than $5 million as Jordanian imports from Chile stood at $4.71 million, while its exports to the Latin American country are worth $0.13 million.
At the political level, the King briefed Bachelet on the efforts being exerted to push the Mideast peace process forwawrd and ensure its continuation and success, in accordance with international resolutions and two-state solution.
In statements to the press after the meeting, the King described Chile as one of the most inspiring countries in the world, highlighting the importance for diplomatic coordination between Amman and Santiago to help end conflict and promote inter-cultural dialogue.
The Chilean leader called for commitment to a peaceful solution and implementation of international legitimacy resolutions, stressing the need for a balance between the Palestinians' right to independence and a sovereign state and Israel's right of existence and security.
Meanwhile, King Abdullah met with Chile's Senate President Adolfo Zaldيvar. He also visited the Supreme Court and met with its president Urban Marin and the chamber of deputies, where he met with its speaker Francisco Encina.
King Abdullah and Queen Rania started their official visit to Chile by visiting the Bernardo O'Higgins memorial and were briefed on the history of Chile and the King laid a wreath of flowers in the memorial.