Jordan Times
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
There are reasons for optimism
over Annapolis meeting - King
AMMAN (JT) - His Majesty King Abdullah said on Monday that he was optimistic
regarding a Middle East peace meeting due later this year in Annapolis, US.
“What we've been hearing back from the US, the EU, the Quartet has given us some
reason for optimism,” the King told China’s Xinhua news agency ahead of his
three-day visit to the Asian country, where he arrived yesterday.
King Abdullah added that the peace meeting is especially important right now, as
it forms a significant opportunity in putting an end to the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict.
The Monarch expressed hope that the international gathering will have concrete
results. He said: “We mean an agreement in principle on the final status issues
that will set the agenda for negotiations and a clear time frame. All of these
will convince the people of the region that the parties are seriously committed
to peace and that an end to this conflict is in sight.”
His Majesty is expected to hold a summit meeting today with Chinese President Hu
Jintao.
The two leaders are scheduled to attend the signing of several agreements in
various fields of cooperation.
He told Xinhua the new agreements reflect the “momentum of the Jordanian-Chinese
relationship and the volume of cooperation potentials between the two
countries”.
The King said he was pleased that Jordanian-Chinese ties have grown warmer and
deeper in nearly every field, making China one of Jordan's most important
development partners.
In the interview, published on Sunday, the Monarch added that the 30th
anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Jordan and China,
which the visit coincides with, is a milestone in the relationship.
During his visit, the King is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Wen Jiabao
and several academicians, opinion leaders and investors.
His Majesty said the Jordan Investment Board will open an office in Beijing,
adding that the China Development Bank will soon open an office in Jordan,
noting that both “speak to the scope of potential for cooperation in many, many
fields, especially among our respective private sectors”.
King Abdullah said he fundamentally believes that there are bridgeheads to a
much more comprehensive relationship between Jordan and China, in addition to a
broader strategic relationship between the Arab world and China.
He also said he commended the progress, organisation and concentration
characterising China’s development process.
During his visit to China, King Abdullah is scheduled to deliver a speech at
Beijing University on Jordanian-Chinese ties and Arab-Chinese relations,
highlighting China's contributions in support of efforts seeking to bring about
peace and stability in the Middle East.
King Abdullah will also visit several pioneering IT and telecom establishments
and projects, according to a Royal Court statement issued earlier this week.
Jordan seeks to transfer Chinese expertise in technological planning,
infrastructure and services, along with heavy industries and IT, to economic
development zones in the Kingdom, the statement added.