Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Jordan and Japan agreed to hold the second Japanese-Jordanian policy dialogue meeting in February 2019 to discuss development cooperation priorities for the next two years as well as Japan's support to Jordan to cover part of its financial needs over the coming period, according to a statement issued on Saturday following the conclusion of an official visit by Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Mary Kawar to Japan.

During the visit, the minister held meetings with a number of Japanese officials for talks on current and future cooperation between the two countries.

The statement said that Kawar met with the Japanese deputy prime minister and finance minister, JICA vice president in addition to state minister for foreign affairs and other officials concerned with Japanese aid to regional countries including Jordan.

The minister voiced appreciation of Jordan's government and people to the Japanese government for its continued support to the Kingdom, stressing the importance of Japan as a key partner in the development process in Jordan.

She also thanked Japan for its humanitarian role in supporting UNRWA.

During the meetings, the two sides discussed projects, programs and initiatives financed by Japan through JICA in the Kingdom and agreed to remove hurdles facing the implementation of these projects and programs.

They also discussed the possibility of benefiting from Japan's experience in priority areas such as vocational education and training related to labor and employment.

The minister also discussed opportunities for Japan to provide support to the budget to help Jordan meet some of the financial needs for the next two years and contribute to advancing reforms.

She also urged the Japanese side to support Jordan at two important conferences, the first to be held in London next February hosted by the British government on Jordan; and the second, the Third Brussels conference in March 2019 on supporting the future of Syria and the region.

According to the statement, the Japanese side praised the pivotal role of Jordan under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II to promote peace, security and stability in the region.

The Japanese officials said that Japan will continue its support through the available tools to enable Jordan to overcome the economic and financial difficulties, including overcoming the consequences of the ongoing Syrian crisis.

Japan is a major donor to Jordan and provided financial aid in the form of grants and soft loans to support the budget, development projects and the Jordanian response plan to the Syrian crisis.

Since 1999, Japan has provided about $1.363 billion to the Kingdom in financial aid.