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

Three officers and a fourth wounded officer 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 fallen victim to an incident; rather, it treated them as Jordanians whom we had lost. His Majesty King Abdullah II personally visited them at the Medical City and offered his condolences at the residence of the Chinese ambassador in Amman at the time. Nor did the matter end there. During the King’s visit to China a month after the tragedy, he visited the Chinese National Defense University itself, met with the officers’ widows and colleagues, and once again offered his condolences.

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, transforming them from a primarily commercial and economic relationship into a deeper partnership grounded in shared human and cultural values—not merely as Jordanians, but as Arabs engaging with the ancient Chinese civilization. Both sides aspire to progress and prosperity without forgetting or abandoning their rich Eastern historical and human heritage: a heritage that gives us strength and authenticity and upon which we can build progress founded on ethical principles that are not subject to compromise.

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

The royal vision, being advanced by the Crown Prince, is directed toward building a professional technology sector capable of creating new opportunities for young people and supporting the development process. Jordan has the desire, determination and a young generation eager to learn and receive training in fields including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and many others. In this way, Jordan would not merely become a training centre for China’s rapidly advancing technologies, but also a platform for exporting and re-exporting those technologies.

Chinese investments in Jordan have reached $3.36 billion over just 15 years (2010–2025). But beyond the figures, China is not merely an investment partner; it is well positioned to become a key force in rebuilding Jordan’s productive economic base, while Jordan can simultaneously serve as an important gateway for China. In the history of peoples and nations, the Silk Road cannot simply be viewed as a historical 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, quite simply, be built upon once again.

Jordan can offer China new horizons through its unique geopolitical position. The country possesses political weight that far exceeds the size of its economy and industrial base. Jordan’s policy of moderation and its long 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 closeness of Jordanian-Chinese relations—and their transformation into a strategic dimension, as described by the Chinese ambassador in Amman—gives Jordan closer ties with an important economic and political partner, as well as a permanent member and key player in the United Nations Security Council.

This strongly supports 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, the rejection of violence and the pursuit of peace. Jordan could secure Chinese support in several areas: advancing 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 negotiation efforts; and contributing to the reconstruction of Gaza.

Most analysts agree that Jordan’s traditional European alliances, particularly its relationship with the United States, are unlikely to be affected by any change, even if Jordan begins developing new regional and international partnerships, such as with China. Such diversification remains part of Jordan’s pursuit of its higher national interests, as it seeks available solutions and alternatives to address domestic and regional challenges that have a profound impact on the Kingdom.

On the domestic front, Jordan could position itself as a hub for the localization of Chinese industries across its various governorates, according to each area’s resources, capabilities and needs. The goal should not be limited to technology transfer; it should also include training Jordanian youth in these technologies through industrial facilities established in Jordan, enabling the Kingdom to serve as a gateway for Chinese industries to European and global markets through localization.

Perhaps the most pressing domestic challenges facing Jordanian officials and citizens are water and energy. I do not believe there is a body of technology, tangible achievements or large-scale projects in these sectors more significant than China’s expertise, 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 contributed to addressing deep-rooted challenges and are expected to generate an even greater tangible impact in the future. We surveyed citizens in several Jordanian governorates, and their views converged around one central idea: “We can see these projects on the ground—roads being rehabilitated, schools being built... the impact reaches directly those who need it most.”

Jordanian-Chinese partnerships span several areas: strategic partnerships such as the Attarat project and potash-related ventures; investment and operational partnerships, including factories in several governorates; and humanitarian and development partnerships, such as the construction of schools, 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. What is certainly required, however, is a deep human understanding of the civilizational factors shared by the two nations—an understanding that must culminate in joint action and effort, open policies, close monitoring and follow-up, mutual respect, and institutional cooperation built on sustainable frameworks, alongside the flexibility needed to move these partnerships forward without delay.