Hasan Dajah

His Majesty King Abdullah’s state visit to the People’s Republic of China, beginning Monday, comes at a time of particular economic and strategic importance. The anticipated meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji, in addition to representatives of major Chinese companies, offer an opportunity to move relations between the two countries from traditional trade to a long-term productive and investment partnership.

The visit gains further momentum with the participation of an economic ministerial delegation and the agreements and memoranda of understanding scheduled to be signed in various fields. However, the true value of these understandings will be measured by their ability to translate into viable projects that align with the priorities of the Jordanian economy, create job opportunities, facilitate technology transfer, and boost exports.

Jordanian-Chinese relations have progressed significantly since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1977, culminating in a strategic partnership built on mutual political trust, Jordan's stability, its strategic geographic location, and its network of trade agreements. According to figures released in 2024, the volume of trade reached approximately $5.37 billion, reflecting the strength of economic ties and the expanding presence of Chinese products in the Jordanian market.

However, the current trade structure reveals a significant opportunity to enhance the quality of the relationship. Jordanian exports to China are concentrated in potash, phosphates, and chemical derivatives, while Jordan imports vehicles, machinery, textiles, iron products, and various manufactured goods. Therefore, the relationship should not be viewed solely through the lens of the trade deficit, but rather in terms of its potential to increase investment and production, raise the added value of Jordanian exports, and encourage Chinese companies to manufacture in the Kingdom and export from there to regional and international markets.

Jordan has much to offer China beyond its domestic market. Its location connects the Levant, the Arabian Gulf, and the Red Sea, and it possesses ports, development and industrial zones, and free trade agreements that provide preferential access to vast markets. These advantages make the Kingdom a promising platform for Chinese companies seeking to establish export-oriented industries.

Therefore, the Jordanian Royal Vision can focus on attracting high-quality Chinese investments in the electrical and electronic industries, vehicle components, renewable energy, pharmaceutical and food industries, specialty fertilizers, and digital services. Attracting capital alone is insufficient; projects must include a commitment to local employment, training, knowledge transfer, and connecting investors with Jordanian suppliers and companies.

Jordan has an opportunity to shift from exporting raw and semi-finished materials to joint downstream industries related to potash, phosphate, bromine, and fertilizers. This would increase added value, broaden the industrial base, and enhance the competitiveness of exports to China and other Asian markets. Chinese expertise in solar energy, electricity storage, smart grids, and electric transportation provides a foundation for cooperation that supports Jordan's energy security, through well-planned projects that do not create unsustainable financial obligations.

Cooperation can also be directed toward water desalination and transportation, and reducing water loss—critical national priorities. In the digital economy, opportunities for partnerships in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, e-commerce, smart cities, and logistics are expanding, provided thatframeworks are in place to protect data and ensure cybersecurity, develop Jordanian talent, and support startups.

The Chinese market represents an underutilized opportunity for Jordan. Accessing it requires expediting the registration of Jordanian products, improving their compliance with specifications, developing shipping and warehousing services, and enhancing participation in exhibitions and online platforms. In addition to fertilizers and mineral products, exports can be expanded to include pharmaceuticals, Dead Sea products, processed foods, dates, olive oil, chemical products, and digital services, along with developing a unified marketing brand and direct distribution channels.

Developing Aqaba remains a crucial element in this endeavor, through improving the efficiency of ports and logistics zones and connecting them to industrial areas and neighboring markets. Furthermore, strategic partnerships are not built on economics alone; they also require expanding university scholarships and technical education, exchanging researchers, teaching Arabic and Chinese, establishing joint research centers in water, energy, smart agriculture, and technology, as well as promoting Chinese tourism to Jordan.

The most significant challenge, however, lies not in a lack of agreements, but in ensuring their follow-up and implementation. Therefore, the outcomes of the visit need a permanent Jordanian-Chinese mechanism that includes both governments, the private sector and financing institutions, and identifies priority projects, responsible parties, timelines, financing models, local employment ratios, and the expected impact on exports.

Major projects should be subject to transparent economic, environmental, and financial feasibility studies. The Jordanian-Chinese Business Council should be activated, and a platform should be established to showcase opportunities, incentives, and local suppliers, with periodic indicators measuring progress in investment, employment, and technology transfer.

It is crucial that the partnership be based on the principle of mutual benefit, ensuring a stable and transparent environment for investors and providing the Jordanian economy with quality jobs, technical expertise, and new export opportunities. Chambers of industry and commerce, as well as universities, should be involved in designing initiatives to guarantee their relevance to market needs and their sustainability after agreements are signed and implemented effectively.

His Majesty's visit presents an opportunity to recalibrate the economic compass of the relationship between the two countries. Jordan's ambition extends beyond simply increasing trade figures; it seeks to build a balanced partnership that transforms trade flows into productive investments and integrates Jordanian products and expertise into global value chains. If political will is coupled with organized implementation, Jordanian-Chinese cooperation can become a catalyst for economic growth and modernization, and a model of partnership based on mutual interests and tangible results.