Amman, Sept. 10 (Petra) -- Lower House Assistant Speaker Hala Al-Jarrah emphasized that intangible cultural heritage represents the spirit of nations, asserting that its preservation and transmission to future generations is a shared responsibility crucial for safeguarding identity and fostering cross-cultural exchange.

Al-Jarrah made her remarks during a symposium in China titled "Preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Women's Development in Belt and Road Countries," which convened 25 international delegations to discuss heritage protection and women's empowerment. MP Naseem Al-Abbadi, a member of the Energy and Mineral Resources Committee, also participated in the event.

Highlighting Sino-Jordanian relations, Al-Jarrah noted that the two nations maintain close strategic ties, recently underscored by His Majesty King Abdullah II’s visit to China. She added that these relations build on historic interactions along the Silk Road, which historically served as a bridge for cultural and human exchange.

Al-Jarrah outlined Jordan’s historical legacy, noting that successive civilizations including the Moabites, Ammonites, Nabataeans, Arameans, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Islamic eras have shaped the kingdom into an intersection of civilizations between East and West.

Regarding gender empowerment, Al-Jarrah affirmed that Jordanian women play a foundational role in national development, holding positions in decision-making, politics, and community leadership alongside their role in preserving national memory.

She stressed that women serve a pivotal role in safeguarding and transmitting intangible cultural heritage, pointing to Jordanian elements inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, including the Al-Samer dance, Mansaf, the cultural space of the Bedouins in Petra, and the Al-Mahrās olive tree.

Concluding her address, Al-Jarrah expressed appreciation to the Chinese hosts and called for further strengthening the bilateral partnership across multiple sectors.

//Petra// AF