Khatib walked from the Jordanian to the Israeli side and shook hands with Levy after which both went to the middle of the bridge to meet Japan's ambassador to Jordan, Koichi Matsumoto, for the ceremonial cutting of a red ribbon.

A Japanese parliamentary delegation led by the Director of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Diet, Zenmei Matsumoto, cut the ribbon. ``The inauguration of the Sheikh Hussein Bridge is one of the fruits of the Middle East peace process,'' said a statement by the Japanese embassy in Amman.