Damascus, Nov. 9 (SANA) Syria and Jordan signed 11 cooperation agreements and documents covering transport, trade, investment and other sectors on Monday, as the two countries pledged to deepen economic ties and strengthen security coordination following high-level talks in Damascus.
The agreements were announced at the conclusion of the third session of the Syrian-Jordanian Higher Coordination Council, followed by a joint press conference at Tishreen Palace by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.
Al-Shaibani said relations between the two countries were stronger than they had been in decades, pointing to growing trade, infrastructure projects and cooperation on regional security.
“Syria and Jordan are neighbors by geography and partners by choice,” al-Shaibani said, adding that ties between the two countries were rooted in shared history, family connections and common interests.
Trade nearly triples as cooperation expands
Al-Shaibani said Syria and Jordan had previously signed 35 agreements and memoranda of understanding, with another 11 cooperation documents concluded during the latest council session.
Bilateral trade had nearly tripled over the past year to $330 million, he said, with indications of further growth.
Jordan had become Syria’s leading partner in terms of tangible economic benefits, he added.
The latest agreements followed technical discussions covering 19 sectors, as well as ministerial meetings and bilateral talks.
Among the key outcomes was a memorandum of understanding on railway connectivity, intended to pave the way for a regional transport corridor linking Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria with Türkiye.
Other cooperation documents covered cloud seeding in the Yarmouk River basin, food security, investment, civil aviation, scholarships and academic exchanges.
Al-Shaibani said natural gas had been flowing to Syrian power plants through Jordan since January. The two countries had also established a joint water data platform and reached a new air services agreement.
“This partnership sends a clear message to the region: Arab cooperation can deliver concrete results through projects implemented on the ground,” he said.
Border crossing and highway upgrades
The two countries agreed to modernize the Jaber-Nassib border crossing, with plans to operate it around the clock, establish separate lanes for freight trucks and passengers, and introduce an electronic customs system linking both sides.
Al-Shaibani also announced approval of a $47 million project to rehabilitate the international highway connecting Syria and Jordan.
The two governments are studying the establishment of a joint economic zone along their border, upgrading the free trade zone and reactivating the joint business council.
Regional energy and food security were also discussed
Al-Shaibani reaffirmed Syria’s readiness to facilitate gas supplies to Lebanon, an issue he said had been discussed in detail during a trilateral meeting in Beirut.
The talks also addressed the possibility of supplying Jordan with surplus Syrian wheat and barley, preparations to launch the Darb al-Safa telecommunications project and plans to train 1,450 Syrian government employees in a second phase of cooperation.
Joint investigation into Daraa incident
Both ministers addressed the recent incident in Daraa, emphasizing the importance of security coordination and maintaining strong bilateral relations.
Al-Shaibani said Jordan had shown understanding and a willingness to resolve the matter swiftly. A joint security and technical committee had been established to investigate the incident and determine its circumstances, he said, adding that efforts were underway to provide compensation and redress to the victims.
“Syrian-Jordanian relations are stronger than they have been in decades,” al-Shaibani said.
Safadi expressed condolences to the families of civilians killed in the incident.
“We mourn the civilian victims who lost their lives in the Daraa incident and extend our sincere condolences to their families. Syrian blood is just as precious as Jordanian blood,” he said.
Safadi said the joint security committee had agreed on coordination mechanisms to strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism.
Jordan reaffirms support for Syria’s stability
Safadi reiterated Jordan’s commitment to supporting Syria as it works to rebuild its institutions and address security and economic challenges.
“The ties between Syria and Jordan run deep, and we will continue to stand by Syria as it works to overcome its challenges and rebuild the country,” he said.
He stressed that the security and stability of the two countries were closely linked and reaffirmed Jordan’s rejection of Israeli violations in Syria.
Safadi called on the international community to act to end Israeli aggression against Syria and prevent further regional escalation.
He also welcomed the agreements signed during the council session, saying they would strengthen cooperation and economic integration between the two countries.
“The ties between Syria and Jordan are strong enough to withstand any challenge,” Safadi said.
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