His Majesty King Abdullah’s state visit to India culminated on Thursday with the signing of 12 agreements and memoranda of understanding in a variety of fields, including customs, defence, phosphates, culture, healthcare, medical sciences, labour, and media.

During discussions in New Delhi, King Abdullah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi affirmed their keenness to ensure these deals are implemented on the ground and that they will be built on to advance Jordanian-Indian cooperation.

The talks, held at Hyderabad House and attended by senior officials on both sides, covered the historical ties between the two countries, as well as regional and international developments.

Underlining the strong ties that Jordan and India share in the economic, commercial and investment sectors, the two sides noted the importance of coordination and consultations on various issues of mutual concern in the service of peace and stability in the Middle East and the world.

His Majesty stressed India’s important role in cementing security and stability, as well as fighting terrorism and extremism in pursuit of global peace.

The King highlighted the investment incentives offered in Jordan and the potential for Indian businesses to benefit from them, citing opportunities in the renewable energy, infrastructure, and ICT sectors.

Noting the importance of visit exchanges between businesspeople in the two countries to build partnerships and explore opportunities, His Majesty said Jordan can benefit from India’s expertise while India stands to gain from the Kingdom’s strategic location and the access its free trade agreements offer to regional and international markets.

Talks also covered the Palestinian cause, with the King reaffirming the importance of breaking the stalemate in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, in order to reach just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, which is the only solution to end the conflict, arriving at the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

For his part, Prime Minister Modi stressed his country’s keenness on expanding cooperation with Jordan in the service of the two countries’ peoples, noting that a delegation of Indian businesspeople will be visiting the Kingdom to build partnerships.

Modi said India highly appreciates Jordan’s pivotal role, led by His Majesty, in seeking peace and security in the Middle East and the world, as well as its work towards political solutions to crises in the region.

Royal Hashemite Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Adviser to His Majesty and Director of the Office of His Majesty Manar Dabbas, Minister of ICT and Minister of Public Sector Development Majd Shweikeh, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Yarub Qudah, Minister of State for Investment Affairs Muhannad Shehadeh, and Jordan’s Ambassador to India Hassan Al Jawarneh attended the meeting.

After the talks, the King and Prime Minister Modi witnessed the exchange of bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding signed during the visit.

Prime Minister Modi hosted a luncheon in honour of His Majesty and the accompanying delegation.

The King also signed the guestbook at Hyderabad House.