His Majesty King Abdullah II sat for an interview with  Xinhua, the official news agency of the People’s Republic of China, which was published on Monday, in Chinese, English, and Arabic. The interview focused on Jordan-China relations, as the two countries will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year.

During the interview, His Majesty spoke about his upcoming visit to China, opportunities to build on the strategic partnership between the two countries, and ways to enhance cooperation in economic, investment, development, tourism, cultural, and other fields.

The interview touched on China’s role in the region, with the King emphasising the importance of Beijing’s efforts to support international peace and security, and of building on its significant presence on the international stage to help advance the two-state solution.

Below is the full text of the Xinhua interview:

“Xinhua: The year 2025 marked the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Jordan strategic partnership. How do you assess the development of bilateral relations over the past decade? Which key achievements best illustrate the progress made by both sides in terms of political mutual trust, economic and trade cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges?

His Majesty King Abdullah II: First, I would like to thank you and Xinhua News Agency for your keenness on covering Jordan and our partnership with China. I am looking forward to my upcoming visit to your great country and to meeting once again with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss ways to take the partnership between our nations to further heights.

The deep-rooted relationship between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the People's Republic of China serves as a strong foundation for advancing our shared priorities and fostering innovation and greater prosperity for our peoples.

Jordan's strategic location, resources and skilled youth, coupled with China's economic strength, technology expertise, and global reach, create exceptional opportunities to broaden cooperation. And China continues to play a vital role in promoting international peace and stability, as well as in addressing regional and global challenges.

My upcoming visit straddles two important milestones, namely marking over ten years since the establishment of our strategic partnership in 2015 and the upcoming 50th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations in 2027.

Since the establishment of our strategic partnership, our bilateral relations have achieved substantial progress. Cooperation has expanded beyond traditional diplomatic ties to include trade and investment, infrastructure, education, healthcare and cultural exchanges. Despite regional and global challenges, our nations have remained committed to strengthening this partnership, resulting in steady and mutually beneficial development.

China has also been a key partner in building the capacity of Jordan's public sector. Between 2015 and 2025, thousands of Jordanians in the public and private sectors have benefited from training programmes offered by the Chinese government. Our cooperation now spans the entire education ecosystem, from teacher and supervisor training and Chinese language education to higher education.

Moreover, Chinese energy investments in Jordan have contributed significantly to our self-sufficiency and diversification strategy. In the mining sector, a key investment partnership has culminated in the 502 million-U.S.-dollar acquisition by China's State Development and Investment Group (SDIC Group) of a 28 percent stake in the Arab Potash Company.

We look forward to expanding cooperation into areas such as green energy, scientific innovation, tourism and civil aviation, while further deepening our strategic partnership.

Xinhua: Jordan is advancing its economic modernisation and green development agenda. What are the current priorities for the kingdom's reform and development? How does Jordan seek to deepen practical cooperation with China in areas such as renewable energy, the digital economy and talent development to further support its national transformation?

King Abdullah II: Despite decades of regional instability, Jordan is advancing its Economic Modernisation Vision, a roadmap to 2033 that focuses on prosperity, improved quality of life and inclusive long-term growth through strategic partnerships.

Jordan's economic modernisation agenda recognises that an efficient, digitally enabled public sector is fundamental to economic competitiveness and investment attraction. Jordan has made substantial progress in digitising government services, and a key priority is integrating AI into public administration to streamline processes. These efforts are driving the digital transformation of Jordan's public sector.

Jordan is also well positioned to serve as a regional manufacturing and export hub. Chinese manufacturing investments could leverage this position, benefiting from our natural resources, skilled workforce, stable business environment, strategic location and extensive network of trade agreements.

In addition, sustainability is one of the three pillars of the Economic Modernisation Vision. The energy sector best illustrates this progress: renewable energy has grown from less than 1 percent of electricity generation a decade ago to approximately 27 percent today, with a target of 40 percent by 2035. To sustain this momentum, Jordan is investing in the supporting infrastructure for renewable energy, including a pipeline of nearly one gigawatt of new renewable generation and energy storage projects representing more than 1 billion dollars in investment opportunities.

Another key priority is promoting higher-value, sustainable and resilient tourism growth. The objective is not simply to maximise visitor numbers, but to diversify source markets, encourage longer stays, improve connectivity and ensure greater benefits for local communities. Tourism cooperation should also support Jordanian employment, facilitate knowledge transfer and protect Jordan's cultural and natural heritage. We look to strengthen air connectivity with China as one of our top global partners and main targeted markets for inbound and outbound tourism.

We also see strong potential for deeper cooperation with China by positioning Jordan as a preferred filming destination for the Chinese film industry, building on our superior production capabilities and unique filming locations.

Xinhua: Amid a complex and evolving regional landscape, Jordan plays a vital role in helping maintain stability in the Middle East. Could you elaborate on Jordan's efforts to promote regional stability, particularly regarding the Palestinian issue? How can Jordan and China further strengthen coordination and cooperation to contribute to peace and stability in the region?

King Abdullah II: Despite the regional situation, we have consistently striven to be proactive, encouraging cooperation in the interest of peace while always staying true to our principles. Our diplomatic engagements have focused on this approach. I have always said and believed that the Palestinian issue remains the core issue in our region; what we have seen in recent years underscores this reality. Unless addressed, the region will remain vulnerable to recurring cycles of violence that will become more severe and broader in scope, with reverberations extending far beyond its borders.

Palestinians are facing unprecedented measures, with intensified settler attacks, fast-paced and massive illegal settlement expansion, land grabs and confiscations, house demolitions and violations, as well as harassment and incitement at Jerusalem's Muslim and Christian holy sites. These measures cannot go unnoticed or unaddressed. It is a responsibility upon us all to ensure respect for international law, UN resolutions and human rights.

In Jordan, our efforts have been and will continue to be focused on establishing regional calm, undertaking our duties under the Hashemite Custodianship over Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, working to end unilateral measures that obstruct peace, and pushing for a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue that results in the establishment of a viable, independent and sovereign state of Palestine based on the 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side-by-side with Israel in peace and security.

But we also look to coordinate with China as a key global player and partner to use its considerable influence and voice on the international stage to help push for the realisation of the two-state solution.

Our humanitarian efforts in Gaza continue, and we are grateful for China's contributions to ongoing relief efforts.

Xinhua: As the international landscape undergoes profound changes, the role of Global South countries is becoming increasingly significant. How does Your Majesty view the role of China and Arab countries in global governance? How can Jordan serve as a bridge to enhance cooperation between Arab states, China, and other international partners?

King Abdullah II: Global South countries are playing an increasingly important role in the international arena, becoming more and more central to the global economy, security, and to advancing sustainable development. This further reinforces the importance of strengthening a global system that remains firmly anchored in international law.

We appreciate China's calls for a fair international order, and we look to strengthen our cooperation to foster stronger international cooperation and respect for international law. The crises we are facing today serve as a reminder that we are all interconnected, and highlight the necessity of fostering collective action and dialogue. It is time for our regions to work together to establish better resilience and advance joint efforts to respond to various disruptions and crises.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China plays an important role in safeguarding international peace and security. We have seen relations between China and Arab countries grow in recent years, reflecting shared interests in development and mutually beneficial cooperation.

For our part, Jordan has always been relentless in our efforts to foster regional interconnectivity, closer cooperation and deeper ties. Jordan has consistently pursued a foreign policy based on dialogue and constructive engagement. Our commitment to international law and the peaceful resolution of disputes has enabled us to build trusted partnerships and dialogue across different regions.

Xinhua: This year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Arab countries. How does Your Majesty evaluate the cooperation model based on mutual respect and win-win outcomes between China and Arab states?

King Abdullah II: This milestone is a testament to a relationship that has endured regional crises and shifts. Its durability comes from ongoing practical engagement and a dedication to seeking common ground and advancement of mutual interests. The win-win outcomes approach is the key recipe behind the sustainable Arab-China cooperation model, enabling both sides to see tangible deliverables and fostering trust and strategic partnerships. There is also great untapped potential that we can further explore and build on to establish regional and global synergies; China is, after all, a global economic and political powerhouse, and it has become a global model and inspiration for development and economic progress. We hope to see closer international collaboration in the days and years ahead. Arab countries stand to benefit greatly from China's experience.

We also look forward to further fostering closer people-to-people ties, building lasting friendships and mutual understanding between our nations.

Xinhua: Thank you, Your Majesty.

King Abdullah II: Thank you.”