This year will represent a year of opportunity for all Jordanians to engage and participate for the good of the country, His Majesty King Abdullah said.

Meeting with Jordanian expatriates in the US at a reception held by the Kingdom's embassy in Washington late Monday, the King said in a letter addressing the Jordanian community there that this year will be marked by achievements in reforms, freedom and democratisation.

His Majesty, who was accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Rania and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Hussein, told Jordanian expats that they are Jordan's greatest ambassadors, contributing to the Kingdom's "story and to better project the country’s image globally".

Her Royal Highness Princess Aisha, Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh and an accompanying delegation also attended the reception.

Mahmoud Hmoud, deputy chief of mission at the embassy, welcomed His Majesty and said Jordanians in the US are keen on developing stronger ties between their country and the US, building over "six decades of cooperation and mutual trust".

Following is the full text of the King's letter to the Jordanian community in the US:

Fellow Jordanians,

I am pleased to convey to you sincere greetings from your homeland and best wishes for the New Year – a year that we trust will witness achievements in terms of reform, freedom and democratisation, and a year of opportunity for all Jordanians to engage and participate for the good of the country.

I follow up with great admiration and pride the life and positive contribution of our fellow Jordanian men and women towards the progress and welfare of a country as important as the United States.

You are indeed, in your good deeds, the greatest ambassadors of your country, the Arab nation and our just causes, as well as the historic and exemplary friendly relations between Jordan and the United States. I encourage you to contribute towards a better understanding and dialogue between Jordan, the Arab world and the United States.

With your great efforts, you also contribute to Jordan’s story, and the opportunities it provides to better project its image globally.

In this crucial phase, you will be at the forefront of those who will contribute to the realisation of Jordan’s progress towards achieving the aspired reforms. We are marching steadily towards conducting free and fair municipal and parliamentary elections under the supervision of an independent elections commission, with the end goal of instituting parliamentary governments in the near future.

The Arab Spring was a positive opportunity for Jordan and an impetus towards real and comprehensive reforms, an opportunity that we seized to re-invigorate the political process in our country, setting a unique reform model for the whole region that would be a source of pride for all Jordanians.

We look forward to continuously engage and connect with you, and to benefit from your experience in serving Jordan’s march, wishing you at the same time all success and prosperity.