His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday urged partnership between the private sectors in advanced countries and emerging economies, highlighting the potential Jordan has as a regional gateway.

The King made his remarks at 7th German Foreign Trade Congress 2007 in Bremen, Germany, where he arrived at the start of a two-day visit.

King Abdullah is expected on Wednesday to meet Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on bilateral ties and Middle East developments.

The King told business leaders that for foreign companies that enter emerging markets, there are valuable connections, highlighting in-country markets, regional trading networks, competitive workforces, and knowledge about regional cultures and customers.

The Kingdom, the King said, is a regional gateway to the 300 million people of the Arab world.

King Abdullah said that nowhere is the role of private sector trade and investment more important than in the Middle East.

The King pinpointed the active role Jordan has played in efforts to drive a sound partnership involving the private sector, civil society and public officials. These parties, he said, have worked together to design innovative approaches to development.

Jordan has not waited for external events to shape its future, the King added, citing deep structural reforms made at the economic, political and social levels. These efforts have paid off, he said.

Global economy, more than ever, is able to give hope to so many people, His Majesty told the Bremen audience, stressing that the private sector is central to today's advances and hopes.

King Abdullah underlined the vision and mission of the G-11 group, which Jordan has initiated and led.

The King is also due to meet in Berlin with president and members of the foreign affairs committee at the German parliament.

In another development, His Majesty warned that the failure of the US-proposed international Mideast peace conference to achieve a political rapprochement threatens to waste the important opportunity made available to achieve the two-state solution and the subsequent peace between Arabs and Israelis.

In an interview with the German Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper published today, King Abdullah said the Annapolis meeting is not the end of the peace process but rather marks its start.

His Majesty expressed hope that all parties realize their responsibilities to avoid a more difficult future for the Middle East, describing statements issued by the Israelis and the Palestinians as positive.