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Ammon News - In separate meetings on Wednesday, heads of Lower House committees discussed with Australian Ambassador to Jordan, Bernard Lynch, ways to enhance joint parliamentary relations and develop bilateral cooperation in all fields.

In his meeting with Lynch, House Economy and Investment Committee head, Khaled Abu Hassan discussed mechanisms for developing economic, commercial and tourism relations to serve common interests.

Abu Hassan said Jordan faced "serious" challenges and bore "remarkable" burdens as a result of the refugee waves throughout history, the latest was Syrian refugee crisis, which increased pressure on various state facilities, which "negatively" affected the education, health, water, transportation and infrastructure, and labor sectors.

Despite these pressures, the international donors did not meet Jordan's needs to a "large" extent to respond to the Syrian crisis, to face the refugee consequences, the lawmaker said.

Abu Hassan pointed to the importance of strengthening economic partnerships, opening a direct Jordan-Australian flight route, and benefiting from opportunities offered by the Kingdom's " attractive" investment environment, stressing in this regard the need to benefit from Jordan's natural wealth, such as potash, phosphate and copper.

In this context, he called on Australian companies and businesspeople to invest in Jordan, as it is a "gateway" for neighboring countries, especially in contributing to the reconstruction of Syria and Iraq.

Jordan, he said, has agreements with the United States and Europe, which have contributed to simplifying procedures and enhancing the volume of trade exchange, as large markets for the Kingdom's exports of goods and services were opened.

In another meeting with Lynch, Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mirza Bolad, said Jordan and Australia have "close" bilateral relations at various levels, calling on building more cooperation bridges in light of joint agreements.

Bolad urged more efforts to enhance joint cooperation in the economy, investment, tourism and education fields to achieve common interests.

Bolad stressed His Majesty King Abdullah II's role under the Hashemite custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem's Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and his "historic and religious" efforts in protecting the holy city's sanctities, highlighting the need to support Jordan to continue its "historical, humanitarian and moral" role in the region.

Later, head of House Women and Family Affairs Committee, Abeer Al-Jabour, discussed with Lynch aspects of joint cooperation, especially in the women's empowerment areas.

The lawmaker said Jordanian women have "made achievements in various fields and at all local, Arab and international levels."

Stressing importance of the "constructive" role of women parliamentarians in legislation and oversight, she pointed to their " remarkable" presence in Jordan's Parliament.

Lynch, for his part, stressed his country's "high" appreciation for Jordan's role, under the King's leadership, in seeking stability and security in the region, adding that Canberra is forward to strengthening cooperation prospects with the Kingdom in all fields, especially economic and tourism, in a manner that achieves common interests.

On the Palestinian cause, Lynch affirmed his country's "clear" position, which is based on the two-state solution and living in peace side by side.