The Jordanian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury said yesterday that the “Saudi – Jordanian Coordination Council” which was founded during King Abdullah II’s visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday will begin to convene its meetings shortly and that these meetings will be held regularly.

Fakhoury told Asharq Al-Awsat that agreements and memoranda of understanding that were signed during the Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the city of Aqaba on the 11th of April will be actively followed up by both sides during the meetings.

Fakhoury added that the development of military cooperation between the two countries, strengthening cooperation in the fields of energy, uranium mining and the production of electricity using nuclear power are priorities for discussion. Cooperation with regards to trade and increasing the volume of trade exchange between the two countries are also priorities of the Council.

Fakhoury considers the formation of the Saudi – Jordanian Coordination Council a response to sceptics and stressed that relations between the two countries have always been and remain strong, solid and strategic.

On his part, the Chairman of the Saudi – Jordanian Business Council Mohammed Al-Odah told Asharq Al-Awsat that the “Saudi – Jordanian Coordination Council will work towards eliminating the bureaucracy that hinders the flow of economic and trade activity between the two countries”.

Al-Odah pointed out that the volume of trade between the two countries exceeded 20 billion riyals ($ 5.3 billion) at the end of 2015, and noted that there are 1650 joint ventures between the two countries in various fields.