His Majesty King Abdullah returned home on Saturday following a working visit to China and South Korea, filled with talks as well as political and economic meetings with the leaders of the two countries to boost cooperation in various fields as well as the latest developments in the region.

In the Chinese capital Beijing, King Abdullah held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping that focused on enhancing bilateral relations in different fields and the latest regional and international developments.

At the end of the talks, a joint statement was issued between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the People’s Republic of China announcing the establishment of strategic partnership between both countries.

On the sidelines of the 2015 China-Arab States Expo, the two sides also signed agreements and memorandums of understanding worth $7 billion in the fields of oil shale, renewable energy, electricity generating, railways and training.

His Majesty and President Xi attended the signing of a technical and economic cooperation grant agreement to provide Jordan with a 130 million Chinese yuan (around JD14 million) and establish higher education institutions in applied technology between the two countries.

The King began this visit to China by meeting Chinese global telecommunications group Huawei chief executive officer and deputy chairman, Guo Ping.

The discussion dealt with investment opportunities and incentives offered by Jordan’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, which overlaps with the Kingdom’s vital sectors and is a key driver of the national economy.

His Majesty also visited Hanergy Holding Group headquarters in Beijing and met with its chairman and CEO, Li Hejun, for talks on joint cooperation and means to benefit from the company’s expertise in various energy-related areas.

The King also attended the opening of the 2015 China-Arab States Expo in the city of Yinchuan in Ningxia province, in which Jordan participated as a guest of honour.

His Majesty, accompanied by Chairwoman (Governor) of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Liu Hui, opened the Jordanian pavilion that provides an opportunity for major Chinese companies to look into investment, economic and trade projects in the Kingdom and cooperate with their Jordanian counterparts.

The King also met in in Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia Hui autonomous region, Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security, Guo Sheng Kun.

In the Korean capital Seoul, His Majesty and Korean President Park Geun-hye held talks on bilateral ties, ways to bolster them as well as the latest developments in the Middle East and the world.

The two leaders also attended the signing of a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in the energy field.

The King also reviewed with Korean economic leaders, ways of increasing Korean investments in the Kingdom.

His Majesty also met separately in Seoul with the Speaker of the National Assembly (Korean parliament), Chung Ui Hwa and Korean parliamentary leaders and discussed bilateral cooperation and the latest regional developments.