Dr. Bassem Awadallah, the Jordanian monarch’s envoy to Saudi Arabia.

In an interview with AlArabiya.net’s Editor-in-Chief Mamdouh AlMuhaini, Bassem Awadallah, the Jordanian king’s special envoy to Saudi Arabia, discussed Jordanian-Saudi ties and commended Saudi Vision 2030 and its positive effects on the economy of Arab countries.

Awadallah said Jordanian-Saudi relations are strong, strategic and historical, adding that Jordan believes Saudi Arabia is one of its most important allies.

He also said that Jordan and Saudi Arabia have the same stances towards several affairs, adding that the Saudi-Jordanian Coordination Council is a basic pillar towards guaranteeing the sustainability of bilateral relations.

According to Awadallah, Saudi Arabia is Jordan’s biggest commercial partner as the Saudi kingdom invests more than $13 billion in the Jordanian economy.

The Saudi-Jordanian Investment Fund Company will invest in several fields, and the size of these investments is estimated at $3 billion, Awadallah said.

Commenting on Saudi Vision 2030, Awadallah said it’s considered the strongest and most comprehensive reform project on the level of the region and the entire world, adding that implementing this vision will positively affect Arab economies.

He added that reform plans to end dependency on oil in Arab countries, particularly in Saudi Arabia, is the most important step during this phase.

Regarding non-oil producing countries, he said they would need to reform structural projects that end dependency on aid.

Asked about the Arab Spring and its repercussions on the economy of Arab countries, Awadallah said poverty, unemployment and absence of justice were some of the major reasons that lead to the so-called Arab Spring.

He noted that Arab youths’ demands were logical and realistic but their repercussions were disastrous and affected all Arab countries.

Awadallah added that what the region currently needs is an Arab developmental plan like the Marshall Plan which brought Europe out of crisis after World War II.