Damascus: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi and Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Asaad Shaibani signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the Higher Coordination Council. Jordan and Syria agreed to establish the Council during Safadi's visit to Damascus on April 17, 2025, and his meeting with Minister Shaibani.
According to Jordan News Agency, the Council held its inaugural session on Tuesday in Damascus, chaired by Safadi and Shaibani, with the participation of Jordanian ministers of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu al-Saud; Industry, Trade, and Supply Ya'rub Qudah; Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh; and Transport Engineer Wissam Tahtamouni. Representing Syria were Minister of Economy and Industry Mohammad al-Shaar; Minister of Energy Mohammad al-Bashir; and Transport Minister Ya'rub Badr.
Safadi, al-Shaibani, and the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation and coordination on issues of mutual interest, reflecting the deep ties between the two countries and exploring further collaboration. Discussions focused on advancing relations across various sectors to support Syria's reconstruction efforts and address transitional phase challenges. The inaugural session resulted in an operational roadmap designed to achieve short-term and long-term objectives.
In the water sector, the roadmap includes reviewing and amending the 1987 Yarmouk River Water Investment Agreement to ensure equitable water rights. It emphasizes activating joint committees to enhance cooperation in water management. On energy, the ministers discussed projects to supply Syria with natural gas via Jordan, interconnection and electricity transfer initiatives, and Jordan's renewable energy expertise. They agreed to hold a ministerial meeting in July, followed by technical sessions to advance the projects.
They plan to share Jordan's experience in licensing electricity distribution companies and prepare technical studies to restart the Jordanian-Syrian interconnection line once it is operational within Syrian territory. The possibility of Syria benefiting from the liquefied natural gas port in Aqaba, slated to become operational in late 2026, and utilizing Jordan's petroleum storage and transport infrastructure was also discussed.
On economic and trade, the two sides agreed to convene a joint ministerial committee in July to discuss enhancing industrial integration, intra-trade, transit freight opportunities, and mutual recognition of conformity certificates. A business forum will be organized alongside the committee's meetings, and there will be an invitation for the private sector to re-establish the Jordanian-Syrian Joint Business Council. Syria welcomed a Jordanian economic delegation to visit next week.
On transport, the ministers agreed to establish the Jordanian-Syrian Joint Technical Committee for Land Transport to address issues such as fee unification, future railway links, and regulatory cooperation. They also plan mutual technical visits to facilitate implementing the roadmap outlined by the Higher Coordination Council. The initiatives mark a significant step towards strengthening ties and fostering comprehensive development and cooperation between Jordan and Syria.