His Majesty King Abdullah II opened on Tuesday deliberations of the second national forum on population and development.



The forum is organized by the Higher Population Council (HPC) under the title Youth and Population Challenges.



King Abdullah attaches great attention to population issues and setting up practical solutions for challenges resulted from the rise of population growth rate, which negatively affect the economic and social developmental programs.



King Abdullah always works on fighting poverty and unemployment with a view to improve the living standard of Jordanian people. His Majesty is also keen to create job opportunities and empowering women and youth and activating their participation in charting their future.
The two- day Forum, in which Jordanian students, representatives from youth centers, experts, specialists, decision-makers, and parliamentarians are taking part, aims at
briefing the governmental leaderships on activities that were achieved as well as on the goals of the national population strategy.



The Forum will also highlight challenges that face Jordan and the role of youth in fighting them.



HRH Princess Basma delivered a speech in the opening ceremony
in which she noted to King Abdullah's interest in youth and
population issues. The Princess said that King Abdullah always
stresses the importance of improving the living standard of people.


On his part, Secretary General of the Higher Population
Council Zuheir Kayed presented a briefing on population challenges,
pointing to the policy of HPC as well as its achievements in
population field. He also pointed to the negative impact of the
accelerated population growth rate on the developmental
sectors.


"The national population strategy focuses on a number of
dimensions including the re-productive heath, population,
sustainable development, and media" added Kayed, who also stressed
the importance of cooperating with the national institutions,
benefiting from Arab and Islamic countries' expertise, promoting
partnership with supportive parties, and supporting media campaigns
with a view to decrease the population growth rate.