Ammon News - Jordan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, and Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saturday held a meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for a discussion on strengthening Jordan-Saudi ties, and regional and international developments.

The meeting discussed the two countries' measures to stem the spread of COVID-19 and cooperation on maintaining the flow of interregional trade between Jordan and Saudi Arabia in light of the application of health measures.

Safadi and prince bin Farhan also highlighted the preparations underway to convene the joint committee that would identify practical steps towards boosting economic cooperation.

The meeting figured high on the importance of pan-Arab joint action and cooperation.

Also, Safadi congratulated his counterpart on the outcomes of the al-Ula Summit that has healed the rift in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), lauding it as a step that will bolster solidarity among Arab states.

On the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the ministers highlighted the efforts exerted to reinvigorate the peace process and bring the parties to the negotiating table based on the two-state solution and according to the international law and the Arab Peace Initiative that was launched in Beirut in 2002.

Safadi said that both Saudi Arabia and Jordan see eye to eye on the conflict and the fact that is there is no solution but the two-state solution that would see the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

To that end, Safadi briefed Prince bin Farhan on the outcomes of the Munich quadripartite ministerial meeting that has been lately held in Cairo to discuss the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and peace efforts.

Talking to journalists following the meeting, Safadi said "The meeting came in continuation of the continued dialogue and coordination between the two kingdoms, and an implementation of the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah II and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz."

He emphasized that the Jordan-Saudi ties are "deep-rooted and strategic," saying that the current phase calls for more coordination and dialogue between the two countries.

He praised Saudi Arabia for its long-standing support for Jordan, highlighting that up to 500,000 Jordanians live and work in Saudi Arabia. He added that the Gulf state is Jordan's most important trade partner.

Safadi reiterated Jordan's support for Saudi Arabia, referring to His Majesty King Abdullah II's conviction that Saudi Arabia's security is part of Jordan's. "We stand with the [Saudi] brothers in all steps they will take to safeguard their security and stability," he stressed.

On meddling in Arab internal affairs, Safadi said "We oppose interventions in the Arab affairs irrespective of their source. We also agree that we want to end the tension in the region and address the reasons for the tension, including intervention in Arab affairs."

He inveighed against the Houthi militia's attacks on Saudi Arabia, reiterating Jordan's support for Saudi Arabia.

On the Jordan-GCC ties, Safadi said that "we take pride in the relations we have with the Gulf Cooperation Council. These ties are constantly improving, as they are founded on a long history of cooperation and interaction; we work with all brothers to develop these ties in all fields..."

For his part, Prince bin Farhan said "I am delighted today to welcome my brother minister Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in Jordan to his second country Saudi Arabia.

"I would like to start by congratulating Jordan on the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the state. We wish the Jordanian leadership, government and people more improvement, prosperity, growth and stability."

He said that there are strong and integrated economic ties between the two kingdoms that comprise all economic scopes. He said that Saudi investors are actively investing in Jordan.

On the Qatar-Saudi ties, bin Farhan said "full diplomatic ties will be restored, and we hope we will be able to reopen embassies in the coming days; these are merely logistic matters."