4 April 2022, GJU

Your Excellency Ahmad Hanandeh, Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship,

Professor Ala’aldeen Al-Halhouli, President of GJU,

Mr. Steven Yi, President of Huawei Middle East, 

Mr. Ethan Wang, CEO of Huawei Jordan,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As-salamu alaykum.

It is a great pleasure for me to join you at today’s event at the beautiful campus of GJU. First of all, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I would like to congratulate the University and Huawei for your strategic joint venture. I also wish to express my appreciation to the Ministries and friends for your valuable support to this project.

This year marks the 45th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Jordan. Over the 45 years, under the wise guidance of leaders of our two countries, our bilateral relations have continued to advance. As close friends and partners, we have always supported each other politically, benefited each other economically, respected each other culturally, and collaborated with each other internationally. Our exchanges and cooperation in various fields have grown in scope and depth. In the last two years, we have stood side by side in trying times combating the COVID-19 pandemic together. 

Dear friends,

We live in an increasingly connected, digital and intelligent world. Technologies like 5G, AI, big data, blockchain, cloud and edge computing, immersive technology, IoT, robotics, and their integrated application are shaping our world like never before. In the next decade, the digital transformation will radically change manufacturing, energy, agriculture, transportation and other industrial sectors.

Both China and Jordan are strongly committed to ICT development and digital transformation as key drivers for our economies. In 2020, China’s added-value of its core digital economy accounted for 7.8% of the GDP. China has the world’s largest fiber optic and 4G networks and boasts of over 500 million 5G end users. From 2016 to 2020, China’s e-commerce has been growing by 11.6% on average annually. For 8 years, China has been the biggest online retail market globally. In agricultural production, the application of IoT, big data and AI has exceeded 8%. Mobile payment, live video streaming and influencer marketing have become part of today’s lifestyle in China. During the pandemic, digital technology and digital economy play a significant role. By the end of 2021, over 65 billion health code inquiries were made on the national government service platform. As part of the Belt and Road Initiative, the E-commerce Silk Road has made important headway.

Jordan is an ICT leader in the region and made ambitious plans for digital transformation, including the National Digital Transformation Strategy and Implementation Plan (2021-2025) and REACH 2025. Jordan has the best engineers in the region and Jordanians are known for strong entrepreneurship. There is great potential for cooperation between our two countries.

In the past years, Chinese tech companies have been very active in Jordan, contributing to Jordan’s ICT development and people’s well-being while benefiting from a level-playing field. ICT academies set up by Huawei in partnership with various esteemed universities in Jordan serve as incubators of talents and catalyst for digital transformation. 

I am confidant that with joint efforts of governments and businesses, cooperation between our two countries in digital transformation will harness greater economic potential and opportunities for our people. 

Finally, I wish the joint venture a great success.

Thank you.

Ramadan Kareem!