Syria, Türkiye, Jordan discuss regional cooperation, joint transportation projects

ISTANBUL

High-level officials from Syria, Türkiye and Jordan met in the Jordanian capital of Amman on Friday to enhance regional cooperation and discuss plans for developing joint transportation projects between the countries.

The meeting discussed the development of road and rail connections in the transportation sector, border crossing facilitation, and the strengthening of regional economic integration among the three countries, according to the Syrian news agency SANA.

The trilateral meeting in Amman was attended by high-level officials from the transportation ministries of the three countries.

Syrian Deputy Minister of Transport Muhammad Omar Rahal emphasized the importance of Syria, Jordan, and Türkiye's strategic geographical location, which serves as a natural bridge connecting East to West and North to South.

The minister stressed that this strategic location would provide great opportunities to achieve economic and trade integration, attract investments, and expand intra-trade between the countries, calling for activating land and rail connectivity projects, especially the Hijaz Railway, overcoming obstacles to transit movement, and working to develop infrastructure.

Rahhal explained that the partnership between Türkiye, Syria, and Jordan is a strategic need, noting that Syria seeks to develop in cooperation with important projects such as reactivating border crossings, such as the Nassib-Jaber crossing and the Bab al-Hawa crossing, and developing railway lines such as the historic Hejaz railway.

The approximately 1,750-kilometer Hejaz Railway was built by Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II to connect Istanbul, Mecca, Medina, Yemen, and Damascus. It began operating in 1908. The railway, which contributed to the region's development, was built for religious, military, and political purposes.