Jordan Times
Thursday, December 16, 2004
King discusses closer ties
with Singapore's PM
His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday shakes hands with Singapore's Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana (Singapore's presidential palace). King
Abdullah and Lee discussed Iraq, the Palestinian issue and closer Asia-Middle
East ties, officials said.
The King held both a formal meeting and lunch with Lee on the second day of his trip to Singapore. The two leaders underscored the importance of peaceful and successful elections in January next year, leading to a stable Iraq, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
The Monarch and Lee also discussed various areas of bilateral cooperation, including how to enhance the Asia-Middle East Dialogue. Singapore announced last month it would next year host the inaugural Asia Middle-East Dialogue, a two-day gathering of politicians, government officials and other influential figures from about 50 countries from both regions. Singapore and Jordan in May signed a free trade agreement and a bilateral investment treaty, the first such deals between the wealthy Southeast Asian city-state and an Arab country. Prime Minister Faisal Fayez, Royal Court Minister Samir Rifai, the King's Adviser Akel Biltaji, Foreign Minister Hani Mulki, and Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Bassem Awadallah are accompanying the King.