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Ammon News - The Jordanian-European Parliamentary Friendship Association on Wednesday discussed with Italian Ambassador to Jordan, Fabio Cassese, a number of issues of common concern, Jordan News Agency Petra reported.

The association's head, MP Khaldoun Haina, expressed the "high" value of the "distinguished, deep-rooted and historic" Jordanian-Italian relations, thanks to the two countries' leaderships.

The lawmaker also said the "distinguished" bilateral relations have the prospects to be strengthened on various political, economic, commercial and cultural levels.

The MP, moreover, commended Italy's supportive stances for Jordan in relation to the Palestinian cause and the Hashemite custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, according to Petra.

In this regard, he noted the Palestinian cause receives Jordan's attention by exerting efforts to find a just and fundamental solution to the Kingdom's "central" foreign diplomacy issue.

The association's members, meanwhile, valued Rome's support to Jordan in the refugee file, underlining the importance of increasing its aid to enable Jordan maintain its humanitarian role to refugees.

The lawmakers highlighted a slew of challenges and burdens facing Jordan due to hosting Syrian refugees, which put "enormous" pressure on the Kingdom's budget and its limited resources, which requires the international community's understanding of Jordan's "remarkable" role in this regard.

The MPs also called for launching joint cooperation in the agricultural and industrial fields and increasing Jordan's exports to the EU, as well as scholarships for Jordanian students in Italian universities.

The envoy, for his part, said his country has "strong and long-term" relations with Jordan, stressing that Rome supports the two-state solution and establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state under international legitimacy resolutions.

The two countries' cooperation priorities aim at strengthening collaboration in the agriculture, trade, culture and food security fields, according to the diplomat.

Cassese also pointed to the importance of enhancing the region's stability and security, primarily combating terrorism, which contributes to promoting economic stability and sustainable growth to create job opportunities and strengthen the rule of law and human rights.

On cultural cooperation, Cassese said the two countries have direct contacts to launch cultural events by establishing an Italian cultural center in Jordan, in addition to securing 16 university scholarships for Jordanian students in Italy.