China's top legislator meets Jordan's king in Beijing

Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), met with King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein in Beijing on Friday.

Zhao said China stands ready to work with Jordan, guided by the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, to carry forward traditional friendship, enhance practical cooperation, and promote the sustained, sound and stable growth of bilateral relations.

China's NPC is willing to deepen friendly exchanges with the National Assembly of Jordan, make good use of platforms such as the seminar for parliamentarians from developing countries, enhance mutual learning in areas including democracy, the rule of law and people's wellbeing, and contribute to the advancement of the China-Jordan strategic partnership.

Highly commending China's important leadership in global governance, King Abdullah II said Jordan is ready to work with China to deepen political mutual trust, enhance cooperation in economy, trade, investment and other areas, promote exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries, and work for common prosperity and development.

King Abdullah II laid a wreath at the Monument to the People's Heroes on Tian'anmen Square Friday morning.

China's top legislator meets Jordan's king in Beijing

The USS George Washington carrier strike group has arrived in the Middle East and begun its deployment, the U.S. Central Command said Thursday, as the USS Abraham Lincoln concluded its nine-month mission and departed for its home port in California.

The Washington entered the Central Command's area of responsibility on Aug. 19 and is now operating in the region as scheduled, according to a social media post by the command.

The Lincoln had been deployed to the Middle East since January 2026 to take part in U.S. military operations and a naval blockade against Iran, according to U.S. media reports. It has been at sea for more than 250 days, with sailors facing difficult living conditions and mental health issues due to the high-intensity operational tempo and extended deployment.

The Lincoln is now on its way back to its home port in San Diego, California, with the voyage expected to take approximately four to five weeks, The New York Times reported.

U.S. aircraft carrier Washington deployed in Middle East, Lincoln heads home