Amman, Sept. 10 (Petra) — Lower House Assistant Speaker Hala
Al-Jarrah emphasized that intangible cultural heritage represents the
spirit of nations, asserting that its preservation and transmission
to future generations is a shared responsibility crucial for
safeguarding identity and fostering cross-cultural exchange.

Al-Jarrah made her remarks during a symposium in China titled
“Preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Women’s Development
in Belt and Road Countries,” which convened 25 international
delegations to discuss heritage protection and women’s empowerment.
MP Naseem Al-Abbadi, a member of the Energy and Mineral Resources
Committee, also participated in the event.

Highlighting Sino-Jordanian relations, Al-Jarrah noted that the two
nations maintain close strategic ties, recently underscored by His
Majesty King Abdullah II’s visit to China. She added that these
relations build on historic interactions along the Silk Road, which
historically served as a bridge for cultural and human exchange.

Al-Jarrah outlined Jordan’s historical legacy, noting that successive
civilizations including the Moabites, Ammonites, Nabataeans,
Arameans, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Islamic eras have shaped
the kingdom into an intersection of civilizations between East and
West.

Regarding gender empowerment, Al-Jarrah affirmed that Jordanian women
play a foundational role in national development, holding positions
in decision-making, politics, and community leadership alongside
their role in preserving national memory.

She stressed that women serve a pivotal role in safeguarding and
transmitting intangible cultural heritage, pointing to Jordanian
elements inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list,
including the Al-Samer dance, Mansaf, the cultural space of the
Bedouins in Petra, and the Al-Mahrās olive tree.

Concluding her address, Al-Jarrah expressed appreciation to the
Chinese hosts and called for further strengthening the bilateral
partnership across multiple sectors.

//Petra// AF