China to remain Jordan's most reliable strategic partner: FM

China will remain Jordan's most reliable strategic partner in its development and revitalization process, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in the Jordanian capital Amman on Monday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan.

During the meeting, the Jordanian king said he has visited China many times since his youth and developed a deep affection for China, noting that he cherishes his profound friendship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Jordan attaches great importance to developing ties with China and looks forward to working with China to further strengthen high-level exchanges, advance practical cooperation, enhance communication and coordination in global and regional affairs, and jointly address the turbulent global landscape, particularly the Middle East turmoil, he said.

Jordan backs China's efforts to host the second China-Arab States Summit next year, and is willing to make every effort in the preparatory work to ensure that the summit becomes a new opportunity for deepening strong Arab-China relations, he added.

Wang said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, bilateral relations have maintained a healthy and stable development.

Noting that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Jordan strategic partnership, Wang said China stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination with Jordan, implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and chart the course for the sound development of the bilateral strategic partnership in the next decade.

Wang invited the king to visit China for the second China-Arab States Summit, and to work with China to elevate China-Arab cooperation to new levels.

Under the king's leadership, Jordan, as a stabilizing force in the region, has upheld principles, promoted fairness and justice, and played a unique and positive role in advancing regional peace, Wang said.

China is a responsible major country that always upholds the principle of equality among countries regardless of size, adheres to non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, supports all countries in pursuing development paths suited to their own national conditions, and never imposes its will on others, Wang noted.

China will always stand with the Global South and with small and medium-sized countries, firmly safeguarding the common interests of developing countries, he added.

The two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on the situation in the Middle East.

China to remain Jordan's most reliable strategic partner: FM

China to remain Jordan's most reliable strategic partner: FM

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Saturday depicted as "untrue" the reasons given by the United States for its withdrawal from the global health watchdog.

On the social platform X, the WHO chief noted that the move will make the United States itself and the world "less safe."

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 20, 2025, the first day of his second term to formally initiate the U.S. exit from the UN specialized agency. The United Nations received the formal notice two days later.

Under the UN charter, the withdrawal takes effect one year after notice is given.

Commending the contribution made by the United States as a founding member to many of WHO's greatest achievements, Tedros wrote in the X post, "Unfortunately, the reasons cited for the U.S. decision to withdraw from WHO are untrue."

The U.S. move "makes both the U.S. and the world less safe," he said, expressing hope that the United States "will return to active participation in WHO in the future."

Also on Saturday, the WHO issued a statement, voicing regret over the U.S. withdrawal and rejecting accusations made by the Trump administration.

The U.S. withdrawal raises issues that will be considered by the WHO Executive Board at its regular meeting starting on Feb. 2 and by the World Health Assembly at its annual meeting in May 2026, it said.

In dealing with the consequences, the WHO Secretariat "will act on advice and guidance of our governing bodies accordingly," a WHO press official told Xinhua in an email Wednesday.

The United States has yet to pay its outstanding membership dues, according to the official. "As of today, the USA has not paid the invoiced amounts for its assessed contributions for the biennium 2024-2025," the official said.

The U.S.-based National Public Radio (NPR) reported that the outstanding amount is estimated to total some 278 million U.S. dollars.

WHO chief says U.S. reasons for withdrawal 'untrue'