(MENAFN - Jordan Times) Jordan and Ukraine on Monday agreed to activate cooperation in the fields of industry, investments, aviation, pharmaceuticals, construction and military.
The two countries also agreed that agricultural cooperation should become a priority.
Jordanian and Ukrainian officials signed several agreements that will strengthen the relationship between the two countries at all levels, a Royal Court statement said.
The deals were signed in the presence of His Majesty King Abdullah and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who is currently on a two-day visit to the Kingdom.
Discussions between the two leaders, attended by senior Jordanian and Ukrainian officials, covered bilateral ties and the latest developments in the Middle East.
The King and Yanukovych stressed their commitment to developing cooperation at all levels, voicing hope that the agreements would foster bilateral ties.
The agreements are aimed at enhancing cooperation in the areas of investment, youth, sports, the media, agriculture and vocational training.
Minister of Labour Maher Wakid and Ukrainian Minister of Education and Science, Youth and Sports Dmytro Tabachnyk signed an agreement in the field of vocational training, while Minister of Youth and Sports Mohammad Qudah signed an agreement with the official on cooperation in sports and youth issues.
Another agreement in the field of agricultural quarantine and protection of plants was signed by Agriculture Minister Ahmad Khattab and Ukraine's Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Prysyazhnyuk.
The two officials also signed a memorandum of understanding between the two ministries in the fields of agricultural, technical, scientific and economic cooperation.
Minister of Industry and Trade Sami Gammoh signed a memorandum of understanding on investments and management of national projects with Vladyslav Kaskiv, head of the Ukrainian State Agency for Investment and National Projects.
In the media field, Director General of the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Faisal Shboul signed an agreement with Director General of the National News Agency of Ukraine (Ukrinform) Oleksandr Detsyk to boost media cooperation.
During their meetings, the King and Yanukovych discussed bilateral ties and a wide range of regional and international issues of mutual concern, according to a joint statement issued by the two leaders.
Marking the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Jordan and Ukraine, the two leaders expressed satisfaction with the current level of political dialogue and reaffirmed their commitment to further enhancing the Jordanian-Ukrainian partnership by expanding cooperation in all fields, and particularly economic, military, technical, legal and humanitarian cooperation.
King Abdullah and the Ukrainian president praised the work of the joint Ukrainian-Jordanian commissions on trade and economic, military and technical Cooperation, which are an effective mechanism to further develop mutually beneficial cooperation in the designated fields.
Talks also covered the Joint Business Forum, aimed at promoting Ukraine-Jordan business relations and carrying out important investment projects for the economic growth of Ukraine and Jordan, according to the statement.
In the context of enhancing food security in Jordan and other countries in the region, the two leaders also examined possible investment projects in agriculture and discussed the construction of a grain facility on conditions of long-term contracts to handle Ukrainian products.
Ukraine and Jordan agreed to organise annual cultural and artistic events to enhance cultural ties between the two peoples, according to the statement.
"The two leaders underlined shared positions on the regional and global agenda and called for activating cooperation within the framework of international organisations," the statement said.
King Abdullah and Yanukovych called for further dialogue to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The Ukrainian leader praised Jordan's efforts to break the stalemate in negotiations through holding exploratory talks in Amman between negotiators earlier this year.
The two leaders also stressed the need to consolidate international efforts to guarantee nuclear security. They reviewed prospects for the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, the statement said.
They also expressed concern over the escalation of the crisis in Syria and called for initiating dialogue between the opposition and the government.
Later in the day, King Abdullah held a dinner banquet at Basman Palace in honour of the Ukrainian president and the accompanying delegation.
Several members of the Royal family attended the dinner along with high-ranking civil and military officials and diplomats.
Also yesterday, Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh and several ministers met with Yanukovych and highlighted the significance of his visit in boosting cooperation between the two countries.
He underlined the Kingdom's interest in improving economic cooperation with Ukraine and the possibility of establishing integrated projects in several sectors, such as pharmaceuticals.
Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said a Jordanian embassy will be opened soon in Kiev upon His Majesty's directives.
Khasawneh held a lunch banquet at the Prime Ministry in honour of Yanukovych and his delegation.
Meanwhile, Senate President Taher Masri and Lower House Speaker Abdul Karim Dughmi also met with the Ukrainian president and discussed means to improve parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.
