His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday held talks with Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird on bilateral ties and the latest regional developments, with particular emphasis on Syria.

During the meeting, King Abdullah expressed concern over the escalating situation in Syria, underlying the need to find a political solution to the crisis in a manner that would preserve the country’s territorial integrity and put an end to the bloodshed.

The King also pointed to the repercussions of violence in Syria and the burden of handling the ongoing influx of Syrian refugees and its impact on Jordan’s national economy, valuing the international assistance offered to the Kingdom in this regard.

His Majesty also called on the international community to bolster efforts to move the peace process forward.

His Majesty urged efforts to revive the direct talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis on the basis of the two-state solution which would lead to the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state on the basis of the 1967 borders.

For his part, Baird voiced appreciation for the King’s efforts to achieve peace in the region and comprehensive reform in the Kingdom, expressing his country’s commitment to offer all forms of assistance to address the burdens resulting from hosting the Syrian refugees.