Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met King Abdullah II of Jordan at the Al Husseiniya Palace, where he was accorded a ceremonial welcome.
The two leaders held discussions in both restricted and delegation-level formats and recalled their previous interactions, underscoring the warm and historic ties between India and Jordan. They noted that the visit assumes special significance as the two countries mark 75 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
PM Modi expressed appreciation for King Abdullah II’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. The Jordanian King conveyed strong support for India’s fight against terrorism and condemned terrorism in all its forms. The Prime Minister, in turn, lauded King Abdullah II’s leadership in addressing terrorism, extremism and radicalisation, and his contribution to global efforts against these challenges.
The discussions focused on ways to deepen cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including trade and investment, defence and security, renewable energy, fertilisers and agriculture, innovation, information technology and digital technologies, critical minerals, infrastructure, health and pharmaceuticals, education and capacity building, tourism and heritage, as well as culture and people-to-people exchanges.
PM Modi proposed that both sides work towards increasing bilateral trade to USD 5 billion over the next five years. He also called for collaboration between Jordan’s digital payment systems and India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Fertiliser cooperation also figured prominently in the talks, with Jordan being a key supplier to India and discussions underway between companies from both countries for further investments in Jordan to meet India’s growing demand for phosphatic fertilisers. India is Jordan’s third-largest trading partner.
The two leaders exchanged views on regional developments and global issues, reiterating the importance of restoring peace and stability in the region. PM Modi reaffirmed India’s support for ongoing efforts to achieve durable peace.
On the occasion of the visit, India and Jordan finalised several Memoranda of Understanding in the fields of culture, renewable energy, water management and digital public infrastructure, along with a twinning arrangement between Petra and Ellora. The agreements are expected to provide fresh momentum to bilateral cooperation.
The talks were followed by a banquet hosted by King Abdullah II in honour of the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Modi also invited the Jordanian monarch to visit India, an invitation that was accepted.
