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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - State Minister for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani said Tuesday that the spread of terrorism inside Syria would place additional security and military burdens on Jordan, which shares a 378-kilometre border with its northern neighbour. Momani, who is also acting foreign minister, said as he welcomed Chinese envoy to Syria, Xie Xiaoyan, that no one had a vested interest in the continuation of the conflict in Syria. A solution to the crisis, he said, is a strategic interest, not only linked to regional stability, but to global peace and security, he added.

Jordan is the closest country to the Syrian crisis, Momani said, adding that the Kingdom had borne enormous security and military burdens besides the economic and social burdens resulting from its hosting of an estimated 1.3 million Syrian refugees, who form about 20 per cent of its population.

He stressed that the refugee host countries needed more aid from the international community as they bear the burden on behalf of the entire world.

Hosting such a huge number of displaced Syrians, Momani pointed out, had put immense pressure on Jordan's education, energy and service sectors, as about 150,000 refugee students are enrolled in government schools and state hospitals had provided healthcare to hundreds of thousands of refugees.

The minister said that Jordan had pursued a "responsible" approach toward the Syrian crisis, supporting a political solution that would safeguard the country's territorial integrity and stability, stop the bloodshed in Syria and eliminate terrorist organisations there.

He called for renewed and intensive world efforts to arrive at a peaceful solution in Syria, stressing that Jordan views the political process as the key to a solution "at the humanitarian and security levels".

A stable and lasting truce in Syria would lay the foundation for a serious and fruitful dialogue on the aspired-for political solution, Momani pointed out.

The minister also said the failure to find a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue is the main cause of instability in the Middle East. He explained that the absence of justice and continued violation of the Palestinian people's rights is one of the key reasons behind the spread of terrorism and extremism.

"Terrorist organisations use the injustice to inject the sense of extremism and hatred and recruit more people into their fold", he said.

The Chinese envoy said he appreciated Jordan's position toward the Syrian crisis and for undertaking a tremendous humanitarian role in the service of Syrian refugees that hugely pressured its resources.

He said Beijing and Amman saw eye to eye on many points regarding a solution in Syria, foremost of which is their unanimous call for a negotiated solution inclusive of all Syrians and the need for international efforts to bring about security and stability to the country.

The envoy urged influential world powers to enforce a comprehensive ceasefire in Syria to stop the violence, put the focus on the humanitarian issue and immediately start negotiations.

He also called for reviving the Middle East peace process, and not to put the Palestinian issue on the sidelines, reiterating Beijing's support of an independent Palestinian state along 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.