STORY: Jordanian PM inaugurates China-funded road project
SHOOTING TIME: May 27, 2024
DATELINE: May 28, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:18
LOCATION: AS-SALT, Jordan
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the inauguration ceremony
2. various of the road
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): CHEN CHUANDONG, Chinese Ambassador to Jordan
4. various of the road
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MAHER ABU AL-SAMEN, Jordanian Minister of Public Works and Housing
6. various of the road

STORYLINE:

Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh on Monday inaugurated a China-funded road project in the western region of the country.
  
The inauguration ceremony, which was held in As-Salt, a city about 30 km northwest of the Jordanian capital Amman, was also attended by Jordanian Minister of Public Works and Housing Maher Abu Al-Samen and Chinese Ambassador to Jordan Chen Chuandong.
   
In September 2018, China and Jordan signed an agreement to renovate and expand the 12.5-km mountainous road, connecting the Jordan Valley with As-Salt, the capital of the Balqa Governorate. While the majority of the project's funding came from China, Jordan also covered some of the project's expenses.
   
The Chinese ambassador said the project reflects the enduring friendship between the two countries.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): CHEN CHUANDONG, Chinese Ambassador to Jordan
"This is a project jointly built by China and Jordan. It embodies the long-lasting friendship between our two countries. I hope that this road will bring convenience to the people in Jordan, especially the people of this region, and become a path to security, development, and prosperity."

Abu Al-Samen underscored the road's importance for Jordan, stressing its role in connecting agricultural areas in the Jordan Valley to As-Salt and Amman, as well as its importance in bolstering both the tourism and agricultural sectors of the country.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MAHER ABU AL-SAMEN, Jordanian Minister of Public Works and Housing
"Today, the Ardha-Salt Road was opened, spanning a length of 12.5 kilometers. This project is funded by the People's Republic of China. All thanks go to them on this occasion for their assistance with this project. The road connects agricultural areas in the Jordan Valley to the Balqa Governorate and the capital, holding significant agricultural and tourism importance. The project was managed jointly by Chinese and Jordanian teams, with contractors from both countries. This collaboration resulted in an excellent project, indicating effective technical and administrative oversight from the joint management. Hopefully, this marks a promising start for future projects."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from As-Salt, Jordan.
(XHTV)