Petra News Agency
Thursday, July 12, 2007
King Departs for Canada
His Majesty King Abdullah II left Amman today for Ottawa on a few-day working visit to Canada, where he will meet
with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, senior political officials as well as the Canadian businessmen community for talks
on bilateral cooperation and the latest developments in the Middle East.
The King will discuss with the Canadian prime minister developments in the Palestinian lands, prospects of reviving the
peace process based on the two-state solution and international legitimacy resolutions, as well as the situation in Iraq.
He will also review with Harper Canada's support to the Palestinian economy.
Canadian sources in Ottawa said Prime Minister Harper would seize the opportunity of meeting His Majesty to affirm Canada's
continued economic support to the Palestinian National Authority.
The Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay said earlier that his country would meet its humanitarian commitments
towards the Middle East.
King Abdullah's talks with Canadian officials will also focus on bilateral cooperation, ways of developing them in the
economic, trade, investment and energy fields as well as Jordan's debts to Canada.
During the visit, His Majesty will also meet a number of political and economic figures including Leader of the Canadian
Opposition and President of the Liberal Party, Stéphane Dion and officials from the Canadian Council of Chief Executive Officers.
Talks will focus on ways of attracting Canadian investments into Jordan and encouraging the private sectors from both
countries to set up joint projects.
King Abdullah is also expected to deliver a speech at the foreign ministry's Lester Pearson Building, which was established
in honor of the Canadian Foreign Minister and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Lester B. Person, who later became the prime minister
of Canada.
His Majesty is accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, Director of His Majesty's Office Bassem Awadallah,
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ziyad Fariz, Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah Al Khatib and Minister of Industry and
Trade Salim Khaza'lah.
His Royal Highness Prince Hamzah Bin Al Hussein was sworn in as Regent in the presence of cabinet ministers.