Twenty years ago, in 2005, Jordanian-Chinese relations entered a new chapter. The two countries were brought together by a deeply human tragedy. Despite the pain caused by the treacherous hotel bombings, the attack united us in grief, as the blood of three Chinese officers was shed alongside that of Jordanian and Arab victims.

The three officers and a fourth injured colleague from China’s National Defense University were in Jordan as part of a military and educational programme. Jordan did not treat them as foreigners who had been caught up in an incident; it treated them as Jordanians whom the country had lost. King Abdullah II personally visited them at the King Hussein Medical Center and offered condolences at the residence of the Chinese ambassador in Amman at the time. The matter did not end there. During the King’s visit to China one month after the attack, he visited the National Defense University itself, met with the officers’ widows and colleagues, and offered his condolences once again.

Simply put, Jordan did not forget those who lost their lives on its soil, and China did not forget the depth of Jordan’s solidarity in that tragedy.

That year marked a new formulation of Jordanian-Chinese relations: from a primarily commercial and economic relationship to a deeper partnership rooted in a shared human and cultural dimension—not only as Jordanians, but as Arabs engaging with the ancient Chinese civilization. Both countries aspire to progress and prosperity without forgetting or neglecting their rich Eastern historical and human heritage—a heritage that gives us strength and authenticity and provides a foundation for development grounded in ethical principles that are not up for compromise.

Today, King Abdullah II is visiting China for the eighth time since assuming his constitutional powers. In recent years, Jordan has also received high-level Chinese official delegations. There is a shared desire and determination to reshape the relationship between the two sides in a way that opens the door to new partnerships. These should not be based solely on shared commercial, industrial and economic interests—important as they are—but should also respect the two countries’ heritage, civilization, political and geographical distinctiveness, while harnessing technological progress to build a better future for the younger generations of both countries.

The Royal vision, being implemented under the direction of the Crown Prince, is focused on building a professional technology sector capable of creating new opportunities for young people and supporting the development process. Jordan has the desire, determination and young talent eager to learn and train in fields such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and many others. In this way, Jordan would not merely become a training centre for China’s rapidly advancing technological capabilities, but could also serve as a platform for exporting and re-exporting that technology.

Chinese investment in Jordan has reached $3.36 billion over just 15 years (2010–2025). Beyond the figures, China is not merely an investment partner; it is well positioned to become a key driver in rebuilding Jordan’s productive economic base, while Jordan could simultaneously serve as an important gateway for China. In the history of peoples and nations, the Silk Road cannot simply be viewed as a historic commercial project that existed thousands of years ago and then disappeared. It is a shared legacy of the East and its diverse civilizations—and one that can readily be built upon once again.

Jordan can offer China new horizons through its unique geopolitical position. The country’s political weight far exceeds the size of its economy and industrial base. Jordan’s policy of moderation and its long-established diplomatic tradition enjoy considerable international respect. At the same time, when it comes to China, Jordan remains fully committed to the One-China policy.

According to a senior European diplomat, “King Abdullah has a profound vision through which he accurately explains what is happening in the region, and this is a major source of confidence for everyone.” At the same time, the growing rapprochement between Jordan and China—and the transformation of their relationship into a strategic partnership, as described by the Chinese ambassador in Amman—brings Jordan closer to an important economic and political ally, a permanent member and key player on the United Nations Security Council.

This could strongly support Jordan on the most important regional issue occupying the minds of Jordanians, both the leadership and the people: the Palestinian cause. Both sides are committed to dialogue, rejecting violence and pursuing peace. Jordan could benefit from Chinese support in several areas: backing the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, which represents a political and existential safeguard for Jordan; supporting Jordan’s custodianship of the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem; supporting humanitarian and security negotiations; and contributing to the reconstruction of Gaza.

On Jordan’s domestic front, the country could be positioned as a hub for localizing Chinese industries across its governorates, with each area selected according to its resources, capabilities and needs. The goal should go beyond simply transferring technology. It should also involve training Jordanian youth in these technologies at industrial facilities in Jordan, enabling the Kingdom to become a gateway for Chinese industries to reach European and global markets through localization.

Perhaps the most pressing domestic issues facing Jordanian officials and citizens are the challenges of water and energy. I do not believe there is a field in which China has more relevant technology, tangible achievements and major projects than these sectors, particularly in modern agriculture and clean energy. This represents a broad avenue for cooperation, especially since the two sides would not be starting from scratch.

There are already strategic joint projects in place that have helped address deep-rooted challenges and are capable of generating an even greater tangible impact in the future. We have gathered the views of citizens in several Jordanian governorates, and their opinions converged around one idea: “We can see these projects on the ground: rehabilitated roads, newly built schools… the impact reaches directly those who need it.”

Jordanian-Chinese partnerships span several areas: strategic partnerships, such as the Attarat and potash projects; investment and operational partnerships, including factories in several governorates; and humanitarian and development partnerships, such as school construction, housing projects, roads and other services that directly affect citizens’ daily lives.

It does not take much time to identify the shared commercial and economic interests and projects between the two countries. But what is certainly required is a deep human understanding of the civilizational factors they share—an understanding that must be translated into joint action and effort, policies of openness, close monitoring and follow-up, mutual respect, and institutional cooperation within sustainable frameworks, alongside the flexibility needed to move these partnerships forward without delay.