His Majesty King Abdullah II
Remarks by His Majesty
King Abdullah II
during the G-11 Summit
Dead Sea, Jordan
May 19, 2007
Bismillah ar-Rahman
ar-Rahim;
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good afternoon, and thank you. On behalf of Jordan, welcome to the 2nd Summit of
the Group of Eleven. This meeting is the largest G-11 gathering of national
leaders since our partnership began. That high-level commitment indicates the
importance of what our countries are trying to achieve. Your Excellencies, I
deeply appreciate the generous sharing of your time, ideas, and leadership
today.
Let me also thank the officials, from all our countries, whose work helped
launch our initiative and prepared the way for today's Summit. And I would like
to extend our special appreciation to the G-8 observers who have joined us
today. Our two organizations have a vital shared goal, to strengthen prosperity
and peace in the 21st century. Working together is a top priority.
My friends,
The G-11 countries have come together, out of a shared commitment and a shared
requirement.
The commitment is to the serious path of development – structural reforms and
accelerated programs that advance the opportunities, prosperity, and well-being
of our people.
The requirement is for supportive partnerships, among ourselves and with other
nations – partnerships that can cement our gains and sustain our progress into
the future.
We can take satisfaction in what we have begun to achieve. Our countries have
made significant gains across society and the economy, increasing participation
in global trade; widening access to skills and technologies; committing to good
governance; and realizing higher growth.
The challenge is to consolidate these gains and sustain progress into the
long-term. That means having the budgetary space to continue to invest in
development and economic growth. For all of us, that space has been squeezed by
fiscal and other constraints – high debt burdens; rising oil prices and other
external shocks; rising employment demand; and more. We can and are pushing
forward, including finding new opportunities from cooperation among our
countries. But it is vital that the international community support our
continued progress.
In this regard, the G-11 has identified four priority areas for international
support and cooperation: debt burden alleviation; investment promotion, trade
development, and targeted grant assistance. These are the basics for
self-sustaining prosperity, supporting the foundations for reform, opening new
opportunities for millions more people to escape poverty, and enabling our young
people to build strong futures.
The four G-11 priorities, articulated and agreed in this group’s White Paper,
have been submitted to the G-8 Presidency for consideration. We have also
identified specific initiatives that can serve as a practical, targeted start-up
for G-8/G-11 cooperation. These include investment in infrastructure, support
for small and medium-sized enterprises, scientific research and development, and
technology transfer.
I am very pleased to announce that the G-8 Presidency has extended an invitation
to the G-11 Presidency to discuss the establishment of a formal, institutional
relationship between the two groups in Berlin later this year.
The G-8's partnership with the G-11 can multiply the positive effects its
support to each of our countries has already had. It will tell the world that
the friends of development will not be satisfied until the house of prosperity
is really open to all, that our countries are not simply welcomed up the path;
not simply left at the door; but invited, gladly, over the threshold and into
the house.
And let me say, yes, success is in our interest, but not only our own. This is
especially true now, with the global economy in transformation. Developing
countries are having more and more impact on trade, investment and productivity.
And lower-middle income countries hold an especially pivotal role. Our success
anchors our respective regions in prosperity and stability. And it provides a
crucial model, for other countries, of what structural and economic reform can
achieve. That can be the seed of a new international development paradigm, one
that reaches those most in need and that cements successful steps towards
sustainability on the ladder of development.
My friends,
Our future is still in the balance. Only by working together can we get the
message across to the entire international community. Only by working together
can we build on our common strengths.
Today, we meet to reaffirm our commitment to that partnership. I look forward to
your ideas on practical measures to consolidate our relationship with the G-8. I
hope also we can discuss the tremendous opportunities to enhance cooperation
among G11 members, especially in the fields of trade and investment, information
technology and tourism.
Allow me to thank you again for your participation and commitment. Together, I
believe we can take another step closer to the prosperity and stability our
peoples seek.
Thank you very much.