Egyptian Prime Minister Atef Ebeid arrived Monday in Jordan at the head of a high-ranking delegation for talks with Jordanian officials on ways to bolster economic ties, as well the situation the Palestinian territories, said reports.
Al Ahram daily reported that Ebeid would also deliver a message from Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to Jordan's King Abdullah on bilateral issues and the situation in the Palestinian territories.
"His Majesty King Abdullah and President Mubarak are exerting efforts round-the-clock and consulting with other Arab leaders to help contain the crisis in the region," Ebeid said in a statement to reporters.
His visit will be devoted mostly to a meeting of an Egyptian-Jordanian higher committee, which is set to endorse a series of bilateral accords.
Ebeid is scheduled to co-chair the meeting late Monday and Tuesday, along with Jordanian Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb.
Jordanian Trade Minister Wassef Azar earlier told the official Jordanian news agency, Petra, that Egypt and Jordan would sign on Tuesday nine bilateral accords to bolster cooperation in various fields, including one to facilitate trade between the two countries.
Azar also told Petra that studies were underway to examine the possibility of linking Egypt's Sinai peninsula with Jordan's Aqaba resort, which are separated by the Red Sea, by building a bridge or a railway.
"Initial studies show that the cost of such a project will be around $2 billion, and it is necessary to study the economic feasibility of this scheme and how it can bolster trade between the two countries as well as Arab countries in Asia and Africa," Azar said.
Ebeid is accompanied to Jordan by several key cabinet ministers including the ministers of tourism, energy, telecommunications, labor and health, said Al Ahram.
On May 30, Egypt and Jordan signed an agreement to build a pipeline to transport Egyptian natural gas to Jordan, in the first stage of a regional distribution project – Albawaba.com
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