Cairo, Feb. 1 (Petra) -- Jordan's economic and diplomatic priorities featured prominently at the second ministerial meeting of the Arab–Indian Cooperation Forum, held in New Delhi, as Arab and Indian officials outlined pathways to deepen cooperation amid mounting regional and global pressures.

The Kingdom was represented by its Permanent Representative to the League of Arab States, Ambassador Amjad Al-Adaileh, on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs. The two-day meeting, organized by the League’s General Secretariat, brought together Arab foreign ministers and senior officials, as well as representatives from India.

Discussions focused on strengthening political coordination and expanding economic, trade, and cultural cooperation, with participants stressing the importance of structured dialogue and practical partnerships to address current international challenges.

In his address, Al-Adaileh said Jordan attaches strategic importance to its relations with India, noting that bilateral ties have gained renewed momentum following the recent visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Kingdom. He said the visit helped unlock broader opportunities for economic, trade, and investment partnerships between the two countries.

He underlined that economic cooperation has emerged as a central pillar of Jordanian–Indian relations, particularly across trade, investment, tourism, and other priority sectors, adding that deeper engagement would support sustainable growth and mutual economic gains.

On political issues, the Jordanian envoy welcomed India’s support for justice and international law, reiterating Jordan’s firm position in backing the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. He reaffirmed support for a two-state solution based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state, in line with international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. He also stressed the importance of preserving the legal and historical status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites under the Hashemite custodianship.

Al-Adaileh further highlighted Jordan’s support for the humanitarian role of the UNRWA, which provides essential services to millions of Palestinian refugees, expressing appreciation for India’s continued political and financial backing of the agency.

Within the multilateral framework, he said Arab–Indian cooperation rests on shared interests and mutual understanding, with scope to advance more effective mechanisms to manage challenges, capitalize on opportunities, and leverage the competitive advantages of both sides.

On the sidelines of the forum, Al-Adaileh joined the Arab ministerial delegation, in the presence of Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, in meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reiterated India’s commitment to expanding engagement with Arab states and strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations.

Al-Adaileh also met India’s Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who headed his country’s delegation to the meeting.

The forum concluded with the adoption of a joint final communiqué and the approval of the executive program for the Arab–Indian Cooperation Forum for 2026–2028, setting a framework for deeper coordination in the coming years.

//Petra// RZ