Amman, May 12 (Petra) – Mayor of Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), Yousef Shawarbeh, reaffirmed the city's commitment to forging sustainable international partnerships as a core component of "city diplomacy" and a path toward a more resilient and prosperous future.

His remarks came during his participation in the Arab-European Cities Dialogue Forum, held under the theme "City Partnerships for a Better Future," organized by the Riyadh Municipality in collaboration with the Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI), PLATFORMA (EU), and the International Cooperation Agency of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities.

Speaking in the forum’s opening session titled "Beyond Borders: Transforming Cities through Global Cooperation," Shawarbeh stated that Amman has established partnerships and agreements with 42 Arab and European cities in areas such as sustainable transport, environmental management, digital transformation, and climate change.

He highlighted the city’s advanced partnership with Barcelona, focused on inclusive urban initiatives promoting social justice and accessibility for people with disabilities, the elderly, and children. This vision materialized in the model neighborhood project in Jabal Al-Hussein, aimed at improving public facilities and advancing disability rights.

Shawarbeh also discussed technical visits exchanged with partner cities on urban resilience, public space design, stormwater drainage, green space enhancement, and smart city solutions.

Amman was selected to join the RICH – Resilient and Inclusive Cities initiative, reflecting international recognition of its efforts to improve urban quality of life. Under this initiative, the rehabilitation of the Al-Abdali area (Phase 1) was supported, aiming to enhance mobility and accessibility through equitable urban design.

He emphasized Amman's active role in major global city networks such as UCLG, C40, Metropolis, and the Mayors Migration Council (MMC), which serve as strategic platforms for knowledge exchange and influencing global urban policy.

In a session titled "City Partnerships: A Future Vision for Arab-European Cooperation," Shawarbeh called for a shift from traditional cooperation to transformational partnerships rooted in long-term strategies, joint funding, participatory planning, and institutional capacity-building. He stressed the importance of empowering local leadership, promoting sustainable urban diplomacy, and addressing key issues like climate change, social justice, and urban finance.

He also presented Amman's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, Jordan’s first public transport initiative, as a flagship achievement in sustainable mobility.

On the sidelines of the forum, Shawarbeh met with Riyadh Mayor and AUDI President Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf to discuss mechanisms for sustainable cooperation and experience exchange. He praised the AUDI's role in Riyadh's urban transformation under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

The forum served as a strategic platform to strengthen Arab-European municipal ties, enhance city diplomacy, and promote inclusive and sustainable urban development. Participants from across the region discussed best practices in intercity cooperation, global partnerships, and ways to scale local solutions globally while laying the foundation for future collaborative frameworks.

//Petra// AF

12/05/2025 21:35:34