Jordan, China Ink Nuclear Co-Op Deal

Jordan and China Tuesday signed a nuclear agreement, paving ways for future cooperation on peaceful uses of nuclear energy, especially on electricity generation and water desalination.

Under the agreement, the two sides will conduct cooperation and exchange on basic and applied researches, nuclear plant designing, constructing and operating, mineral exploration and processing among other areas.

The pact was signed by China's ambassador to Jordan Gong Xiaosheng and Chairman of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission Khaled Touqan.

The agreement signals the start of cooperation between the two countries in nuclear energy and other projects, said the Chinese ambassador, observing that future cooperation between the two sides will be promising.

Touqan, for his part, said the agreement aims to lay down a legislative and political framework to begin a serious nuclear cooperation.

He also said the two sides prepare to join hands in uranium mining in several regions of Jordan.

Unlike its oil-rich neighbors, Jordan lacks energy resources. It depends on imports for 95 percent of its energy consumption, which annually costs nearly a quarter of its revenue, according to official data.

Jordan's King Abdullah II announced a civil nuclear energy program in January 2007, saying the country was seeking an alternative energy to generate electricity and desalinate seawater.

Under the strategy, a nuclear plant will be set up by 2015 and nuclear power is expected to make up 30 percent of its energy production by 2030.