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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The governments of Jordan and Japan on Monday signed a grant agreement of 400 million yen ($3.7 million) for the provision of medical equipment to enhance the capacity of the Ministry of Health.

The agreement was inked by Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Wissam Rabadi, and Japanese Ambassador to Jordan, Hidenao Yanagi, in the presence of Health Minister Sa'ad Jaber. It came under the framework of Japan's Official Development Assistance for the Economic and Social Development Programme.

"This grant is part of the quick grant aid package, which the government of Japan has recently announced, for the provision of medical equipment to the countries which fight against Coronavirus. And it comes as urgent support designed to provide medical equipment to strengthen the public health and medical system in the recipient country affected by COVID-19," Rabadi said.

The minister also thanked the Japanese government for its financial and technical assistance, saying: "we look forward to not only maintaining but rather expanding cooperation in the future to help us address various challenges and implement priority projects."

He pointed to the deep-rooted relations between the two countries, and their endeavor to further boosting them in various areas of mutual interest and at various political, social and economic levels.

During the ceremony, Health Minister Sa'ad Jaber stressed that this agreement underlines the true partnership between the Kingdom and Japan, and their cooperation in combating the COVID-19 disease.

The Jordanian government, Jaber said, has provided personal protection materials to the Japanese government during the crisis, and now Japan in turn supports the Kingdom with medical equipment.

For his part, Japan's envoy said: "Japan commends that Jordan has so for succeeded in preventing the spread of the epidemic. Nevertheless, this combat against the COVID-J9 will take long time. For that reason, I would like to reiterate that strengthening the health system in each country is essential. Moreover, Jordan has been working towards the realization of universal health coverage for many years. Therefore, we are very pleased to be to extend this assistance valued approximate $3.7million. I hope that the new grant will contribute to Jordan's fight against COVID-19 and life-saving efforts."

"In a telephone conversation between Japanese Prime Minister ABE Shinzo and His Majesty King Abdullah II in April, they agreed to work together to prevent the spread of COVID-19, " he added, stressing that this grant is an embodiment of the cooperation between two countries.