Kuala Lumpur:Malaysia and Jordan are committed to strengthening their bilateral ties with a focus on strategic cooperation in trade, investment, technology, and defense.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan highlighted the significance of King Abdullah II's visit to Malaysia, marking a new chapter in the more than six-decade-long diplomatic relationship between the two nations. The visit underscored the need for more effective economic cooperation despite the relatively infrequent high-level meetings between the countries.

During the meeting at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, discussions between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and King Abdullah II centered on enhancing bilateral ties, with significant potential identified in areas such as the semiconductor industry, phosphate supplies, defense, and tourism.

Jordan expressed interest in learning from Malaysia's well-established semiconductor ecosystem. Additionally, both countries explored expanding defense industry cooperation, sourcing phosphate from Jordan for Malaysia's fertilizer industry, and using Jordan as a strategic gateway for Malaysian companies to enter the US, Canadian, and EU markets through joint ventures.

King Abdullah II proposed reinstating direct flights between Amman and Kuala Lumpur to strengthen tourism and people-to-people connections. Education continues to be a key aspect of cooperation, with over 2,000 Malaysian students currently studying in Jordan.

To implement these initiatives, Mohamad plans to visit Amman next year for further negotiations with Jordanian officials, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi.