Source The Hindu
Amman, Jordan — In a highly unusual and symbolic gesture of warm bilateral relations, Jordanian Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II personally drove Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Jordan Museum in Amman on Tuesday, during the Prime Minister’s official visit to the country.
The act of the Crown Prince taking the wheel to chauffeur the visiting head of government underscored the deepening personal rapport and strategic closeness between the two nations, which are currently celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.
A Tour of History and Culture
The visit to the Jordan Museum, the country’s largest, was a key cultural engagement in Prime Minister Modi’s packed schedule. The museum, located in the Ras al-Ein district of Amman, showcases significant archaeological and historical artifacts, including the famous 9,000-year-old Ain Ghazal lime plaster statues and sections of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
PM Modi shared his appreciation for the gesture and the visit on social media, expressing gratitude to Crown Prince Al Hussein for showcasing the diverse aspects of Jordan’s rich history and culture. “His contributions to areas such as youth development, sports, space, innovation and furthering the welfare of persons with disabilities are truly remarkable,” PM Modi posted, following their extensive interaction.
Deeper Bilateral Ties
The Prime Minister’s two-day visit to Jordan, the first leg of his three-nation tour which also includes Ethiopia and Oman, has resulted in a “meaningful expansion” of the India-Jordan partnership. Earlier, PM Modi held detailed discussions with King Abdullah II, covering the entire gamut of bilateral relations and regional issues.
Key outcomes of the visit included:
Bilateral Trade Target: Setting a target to double bilateral trade to $5 billion over the next five years.
Digital Cooperation: Discussions on connecting India’s digital public infrastructure frameworks like UPI, Aadhaar, and DigiLocker with Jordan’s digital payment systems.
MoUs Signed: Finalisation of agreements in crucial sectors such as renewable energy, water management, culture, and digital technology.
Cultural Links: Renewal of the Cultural Exchange Programme for 2025–2029 and a twinning arrangement between the ancient city of Petra (Jordan) and Ellora (India).
The personal gesture by Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, a 42nd-generation direct descendant of Prophet Mohammad, served as a powerful visual representation of the strong understanding and cordial relations at the leadership level between India and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
