Jordan Times
Friday, January 26, 2007
King, Queen in Davos to take part in WEF
AMMAN (JT) — King Abdullah and Queen Rania
arrived Thursday in Davos to take part in the World Economic Forum (WEF), which
will highlight the need to increase cooperation to mitigate global risks posed
by climate change and international terrorism.
On the sidelines of the forum, King Abdullah held talks yesterday with
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on developments in the Palestinian
territories.
The King, meanwhile, discussed with Cisco CEO John Chambers the development of
the Jordan Education Initiative and cooperation between the public and the
private sectors.
Under the theme “The Shifting Power Equation”, the January 24-28 forum was to
bring together more than 2,000 leaders from business, politics, academia and
civil society to debate the key “elements that will shape the global agenda in
2007”.
During the gathering, King Abdullah will deliver an address on challenges facing
the Middle East region, foremost of which is the Palestinian-Israeli struggle.
The Monarch’s speech will also include suggestions on ways to arrive at regional
progress and prosperity.
In addition, the King will highlight the importance of exchanging expertise and
building partnerships.
King Abdullah was scheduled to meet with several leading political and media
figures, in addition to chief executive officers of major international
companies.
Jordan will once again host the WEF on the Middle East in May, held under the
theme “Harnessing Diversity for a Common Future”.
The forum, the fourth to be held at the Dead Sea, will focus on the emergence of
new “high-growth” industries and their capacity to have a major impact on the
economic growth of the region, particularly job creation.
The meeting will also provide a forum for dialogue between Islam and the West,
according to the WEF, with discussion issues covering topics ranging from social
and moral questions to political development and security issues.
The WEF, founded in 1971 by Klaus M. Schwab, is an independent international
organisation committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders
in partnerships to shape global, regional and industrial agendas.