Jordan's King Abdullah II to visit China as Iran war hits kingdom's economy

Jordan's King Abdullah II is set to embark on a visit to China on Monday, amid the ongoing Iran conflict adversely affecting the kingdom's economy. This will be the monarch's first trip to China since 2015. During the visit, King Abdullah is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and representatives from prominent Chinese firms to explore avenues for boosting economic collaboration, according to a statement released by the Royal Palace on Saturday.

Accompanying the king is an economic ministerial delegation. The two nations are expected to sign cooperation agreements during their meeting, though specific details have not been disclosed. Jordan maintains a close relationship with the United States, which is China's primary economic adversary, and relies on American aid. Approximately several thousand U.S. troops are stationed in Jordan under a defense agreement.

Iranian aggression has been a significant concern for Jordan and other Gulf states since the regional conflict began in February this year, primarily due to the presence of American forces on Jordanian soil. Iran and its proxies have targeted Jordan and the Gulf region. In December of the previous year, King Abdullah met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Amman, during which Wang praised Jordan as a "stabilizing force in the region" and noted that bilateral relations have maintained "sound and stable development."

China is Jordan's largest trading partner, accounting for one-fifth of the kingdom's imports, the highest share among all countries. The costs of these imports have soared due to heightened risks and disruptions in shipping between East Asia and the Middle East. The Jordanian economy has been stagnant since the 2008 global financial crisis and has faced additional challenges from the ongoing war.

Last month, Jordan faced numerous Iranian attacks, resulting in the death of three American soldiers at an airbase in eastern Jordan, though no other casualties or serious injuries have been reported.