AMMAN — Head of the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) Committee Yousef Shawarbeh and Mayor of Barcelona Jaume Collboni Cuadrado, in the presence of Spanish Ambassador to Jordan Miguel de Lucas, on Monday discussed ways of enhancing cooperation between Amman and Barcelona in all areas of municipal work.

 

The meeting included the signing of a declaration of intent between GAM and Barcelona City Council to boost cooperation and bilateral relations between Amman and Barcelona in a way that contributes to prosperity, resilience, and improved quality of life for the citizens of both cities, Al Mamlaka TV reported.

 

The declaration, signed by Shawarbeh and Collboni, aims to intensify joint initiatives in areas of mutual interest, including accessibility, sustainable water management, development of public green spaces, rainwater drainage systems, flood prevention measures, and smart city projects.

 

Shawarbeh said that signing the declaration of intent “reflects our shared vision for a more sustainable urban future capable of adapting to challenges, and highlights our practical commitment to implementing strategic projects that include sustainable water management, development of green spaces, strengthening flood prevention systems, in addition to investment in smart city technologies.”

 

He praised Barcelona’s support for accessibility projects in Amman, which has contributed to creating a more inclusive urban environment for persons with disabilities, as well as the exchange of expertise in innovation and urban resilience, and participation in major global events such as the Smart City Expo World Congress.

 

Collboni stressed the “depth” of relations between Amman and Barcelona, pointing out that the two cities have enjoyed active projects and cooperation for years.

 

He said that Amman is an” innovative and pioneering capital”, especially in terms of its climate policy and its action plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, in addition to its commitment to developing public transport.

 

The mayor noted that Amman is a city with a “long tradition of hospitality, open and deeply committed to the struggles of other cities and peoples, having hosted refugees from many regions, particularly from Palestine.”

 

He added: “Amman shares challenges with Barcelona; therefore, we seek to learn and are committed to joint cooperation, especially in specific areas such as climate policies and mitigation of climate change impacts, including flood prevention systems, green space development, enhancing citizen accessibility, and urban innovation.”