Jordan Times
Friday, February 20, 2004
King to deliver keynote speech at Asian-Arab economic summit
AMMAN (JT) — His Majesty King Abdullah will act as patron at the first summit bringing together New Asian Leaders (NAL) and members of the Arab Economic Council, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.The summit, scheduled in Malaysia for Feb. 24, is a translation of an initiative the King put forward as he was a guest speaker at the three-day World Economic Forum East Asia summit held last year in Singapore.
Then, the King addressed more than 800 business leaders urging them to embrace a “dynamic new partnership for development.”
During talks he held with Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok earlier this week, the King said Jordan is interested in better relations between the Arab world and Asia, particularly in the economic field.
He said that his visit to Malaysia falls within this Arab-Asian economic cooperation.
Established under the auspices of the World Economic Forum (WEF), the NAL community seeks to achieve Asian economic integrity.
NAL's meeting with the Arab businessmen, at which the King will deliver a keynote speech, is the first official such meeting. Talks will address a number of central issues like poverty, education, IT gap and economic integration.