Jordan

Note: This column mainly includes countries along the Belt and Road and countries that have signed cooperation agreements with China on Belt and Road Initiative.

Location: Jordan is located in theheart of the Middle East, Northwest of Saudi Arabia, south of Syria, Southwestof Iraq. Jordan has access to the Red Sea via the port city of Aqaba, locatedat the northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba.

Area: 89,342 sq. km
Language: Arabic is the official language, but English is widely spoken.

Time: Time is GMT + 2 (in winter, +3in summer), or 7 hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time. Summer time isobserved from April through September.

Climate and Geography

Jordan has acombination of Mediterranean and arid desert climates, with Mediterraneanclimates prevailing in the north and west of the country, while the majority ofthe country is desert. Generally, the country has warm, dry summers and mild,wet winters, with annual average temperatures ranging from 12 to 25 C (54 to 77F) and summertime highs reaching the 40s (105-115 F) in the desert regions.Rainfall averages vary from 50mm (1.97 inches) annually in the desert to asmuch as 800 mm (31.5 inches) in the northern hills, some of which falls assnow.

Government

The Hashemite Kingdomof Jordan is an absolute monarchy with a representative government. Thereigning monarch, His Majesty King Abdullah II, is the Head of State, the ChiefExecutive and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces. The king exerciseshis executive authority through the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers,or Cabinet. The cabinet is responsible before the elected House of Deputieswhich, along with the House of Notables (Senate), constitutes the legislativebranch of the government. The judicial branch is an independent branch of thegovernment. Since 1989, all elements of the Jordanian political spectrum haveembarked together on a road to greater democracy, liberalization and consensusbuilding. These reforms, which were guided by the late King Hussein, haveplaced Jordan on an irreversible road to democratization. The result has beengreater empowerment and involvement of everyday citizens in Jordan's civiclife, contributing to increased stability and institutionalization which willbenefit the country far into the future.

Economy

Since His Majesty KingAbdullah II assumed the throne in 1999, Jordan has embarked on some broadeconomic reforms in a long-term effort to improve living standards. TheJordanian government has worked closely with the IMF, practiced carefulmonetary policy, and made significant progress with privatization. Thegovernment also has liberalized the trade regime sufficiently in order toguarantee Jordan's membership in the Word Trade Organization (2000), anassociation agreement with the European Union (2000), and a Free TradeAgreement with the United States (2000).

GDP Growth Rate: 3% (2012 est.)

Main Exports: Clothing, Fertilizers,Potash, Phosphates, Vegetables, Pharmaceuticals

Main Imports: Crude Oil, Machinery,Transport Equipment, Iron, Cereals

Source: jordanembassyus.org