Jordanian experts said Friday that China's New Silk Road project will help boost cultural ties between Jordan and China.
In interviews with Xinhua, several Jordanian experts said the project will help boost ties at various economic levels including tourism and other fields.
They said the project will build a key role in also enhancing cooperation between the two countries and strengthen the relations.
"The Chinese Silk Road project will help boost dialogue between the Arab and Chinese civilizations and ties that are based on friendship. It will also increase cooperation in fighting terrorism and also in cultural and economic integration," Jordan's Minister of Culture Lana Mamkegh told Xinhua.
She also stressed on the historic ties between China and the Islamic world, adding that the new Silk Road project will increase cooperation in various cultural fields and exchange of visits.
Jordan, she said, is keen on increasing cultural cooperation and holding fairs and festivals between the two countries, adding that Chinese regularly participates in the Jerash Festival, which is held annually in Jordan.
The minister added that a large number of Jordanians are learning Chinese and the number is on the rise, stressing the importance of the language to bringing the two countries' people closer.
Meanwhile, Samir Habashneh, head of the cultural cooperation committee between Jordan and China, said the committee seeks to develop a strategy to boost cultural cooperation between China and the Arab world.
He added that the committee is exerting efforts to revive the long heritage and history between China and the Arab world.
"There are many similarities between the Arab and Chinese civilizations and both are working towards global peace and Jordan and China see eye to eye on many issues including the Palestinian issue," Habashneh added.
He added that China is a key partner to Jordan and the Arabs and that ties are improving in several fields.
Habashneh added that there are plans for increased cooperation between Jordan and China in the cultural field.
Noting that the number of Jordanian students who learn Chinese is increasing, Dean of Faculty of Languages at the University of Jordan Adnan Smadi said many Chinese students at the same time come to Jordan for learning Arabic.
He added that China extended several types of support to the university through furbishing several halls and labs.
Smadi added that the exchange of faculty members between Jordan and China also plays a key role in enhancing ties in the field of education.
According to Smadi, some 300 Jordanian students study Chinese at the University of Jordan.
