Your Excellencies dear ministers, members of parliament and generals,

Dear colleagues of the diplomatic corps,

Members of the Chinese community,

Ladies and gentlemen and dear friends,

Good evening. Salam Allaikum.

Ahlan wa sahlan! Welcome to today’s reception.

At the end of 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic raging, I set foot on Jordanian soil and commenced my term as China’s 15^th Ambassador in home quarantine alone.

Time flies. Four and a half years later, I am bidding farewell to everyone at a reception packed with guests, overwhelmed with treasured and unforgettable memories.

I have been moved by Jordan's beauty. From Ajloun to Aqaba, from Madaba to Ma'an, I have traveled to all governorates of Jordan. I strolled in the magnificent ancient city of Petra, and recently had the honour of witnessing the signing of a cooperation agreement between Petra and Jiayuguan, a great pass on the Great Wall of China. I gazed at the stars in Wadi Rum, floated in the Dead Sea, tried mosaic making in Madaba, felt religious harmony in As-Salt, and indulged in Arabic songs and dances at the Jerash Festival. I fall in love with Jordanian cuisine and regret for not tasting Mansaf with my hand in Karak.

I have been touched by Jordan’s hospitality. I feel at home each and every day in Jordan. I went into communities, universities and schools, and was always struck by the youthful spirit and friendship towards China. Many Jordanian friends welcomed me to their homes, with the most delicious food and the most heartwarming stories. I joined Jordanian fans to cheer for the Nashama football team in Amman Sports City. I talked with Syrian refugees who expressed their gratitude for Jordan.

I have always admired Jordan's resilience. Under the strong leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, the Jordanian people are united as one, making Jordan an "oasis of security and stability" in the region. His Majesty said that Jordan was not built by pessimists and skeptics. In the past 79 years since its independence, Jordan has overcome numerous difficulties, made great achievements in nation building, and embarked on a new path of modernization reforms. Despite the many challenges Jordan faces, I am full of confidence and optimism for Jordan's future.

My dear friends,

It has been a great honour and responsibility serving as the Chinese Ambassador to Jordan. I am so proud of the continuous development of China-Jordan relations and the steady progress of cooperation in various fields over the past few years, based on mutual respect and win-win solutions.

Our political mutual trust has grown stronger. With strategic guidance from our leaders, close communication and coordination between our foreign ministers, and exchanges of visits between legislative and judicial bodies, China-Jordan strategic partnership has been enriched. Our two countries firmly support each other on issues involving our core interests. China supports Jordan in its efforts to safeguard national security and stability, and highly appreciates Jordan’s adherence to the one-China principle. China and Jordan have highly compatible positions on regional and international issues. Both countries are steadfast in supporting the just cause of the Palestinian people, upholding the "two-state solution", and worked hand in hand to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

In a turbulent and complex global context, China and Jordan should strengthen solidarity and cooperation, join hands in championing the  international law and the international order, and defending international justice.

Our practical cooperation has continued to expand. In 2020, the bilateral trade volume between China and Jordan was US$3.6 billion, and it reached US$5.37 billion in 2024. In the first four months of this year, our two way trade expanded about 21% year-on-year. In 2023, our governments signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. Spanning two thousand years, two ancient Silk Road partners have again become natural partners of the modern-day silk road.

Mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation has created many success stories. A Chinese company has become the largest shareholder of the Arab Potash Company, boosting the production, sales and profit of APC’s potash fertilizer, and at the same time contributing to China's food security. The Attarat oil shale power plant, with Chinese investment, engineering and operation, uses locally available resources. Solar and wind power projects acquired by Chinese companies have scaled up capacity. They are both of great significance to Jordan's energy security and green transition. Chinese companies have taken advantage of Jordan's position as a gateway, making investment in garment and ceramic factories, creating jobs and leading Jordanian export to countries around the world. The expansion and rehabilitation of the road near As-Salt, funded by the Chinese government and built by a consortium with Jordanian partners, connects Jordan’s agricultural and tourist regions and transforms into a road of safety and prosperity.

Today, both China and Jordan are on a new journey of modernization. We look forward to forging ahead as close teammates and exploring more potential for cooperation in the fields of digital economy, artificial intelligence, tourism, modern manufacturing and so on.

Our cultural exchanges have become more robust. China and Jordan both belong to oriental civilization, with similar cultural traditions and values. We both believe in harmonious coexistence, tolerance and mutual learning among civilizations and religions. Chinese art groups have come to the Jerash Festival for consecutive years. Cultural events organized by the Amman China Cultural Center such as Tea for Harmony as well as food, poetry, movie and animation festivals have been warmly received on campuses and in communities. Educational cooperation is thriving, with over 600 Jordanian students learning Chinese in Jordanian universities, and over 500 Chinese students studying Arabic in Jordan. Exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Jordanian universities have also gathered pace. Last year, the Embassy sent more than 600 Jordanian friends from all quarters to China for training and study, and this year the number is expected to further increase.

In 2014, at the opening of the Sixth Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, His Excellency President Xi Jinping told the story of a Jordanian youth Mohanad Shalabi who started his business and family in China in pursuit of his dream, which became one of the best known stories of China-Jordan friendship and China-Arab friendship.

I will never forget how our two peoples helped each other during the pandemic. At the outset of the pandemic in China, Jordanian friends generously provided much-needed PPEs, participated in clinical trial of Sinopharm vaccine, casting a vote of confidence in Chinese vaccines. China reciprocated by taking the lead in providing vaccines to Jordan and donating the largest amount.

My dear friends,

I have spent more than 1600 unforgettable days and nights in Jordan. As I am leaving this land that I love, I am filled with gratitude, pride and optimism.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the royal court, the Jordanian government, parliament, judicial departments, military and security agencies for your strong support to the development of China-Jordan relations.

I would like to thank all friends from the business, education, culture, tourism, intellectual communities, and from the governorates, for your active role in China-Jordan cooperation.

I would like to thank all friends from the media for your interest in and coverage of China and China-Jordan cooperation.

I would like to thank the Jordan-China Friendship Association, Jordan-China Cultural Cooperation Forum and other friendship organizations for your valuable support.

I am fully confident that you will all continue to support stronger China-Jordan ties and the work of the Embassy.

A big thank you to every Jordanian who greeted me with a smile and warmed my heart. I know very well that your friendship is not only for me personally, but also because I represent China.

A big thank you to my colleagues of the diplomatic corps. It has been a great honour and pleasure to know you. You have helped me so much with your friendship, knowledge and insights.

A big thank you to the Chinese community, including Chinese companies, Chinese teachers and students in Jordan. You represent the fine traditional Chinese virtues of unity and solidarity. And you are the bridges and messengers of China-Jordan friendship.

Last but not least, my thanks go to all my Chinese and Jordanian colleagues at the Embassy. I have been so fortunate to work with you. You are my family.

My dear friends,

This year marks the 10^th anniversary of the establishment of strategic partnership between China and Jordan. I firmly believe that, no matter how the international situation changes, China and Jordan will always remain true friends and good partners, and the relationship between our two countries will embrace a brighter future.

I sincerely wish the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan continued prosperity and its people happiness. And may the friendship between China and Jordan last forever.

I also take this opportunity to wish all Muslim friends a very blessed Eid al-Adha. Eid Mubarak!

Thank you. Shukran.