Their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania received on Wednesday evening President of the World Bank James Wolfensohn and vice- president of the Bank for Middle East affairs Christean Brotemn.



During the meeting, which was attended by the Foreign Minister and the Minister Planning, the two sides outlined the bilateral cooperation between Jordan and the World Bank and the developmental role of the Bank to help Jordan implement the structural reforms in the various sectors.



The King valued the bank's role in preparing for the project of protecting the Dead Sea. He also stressed the importance the program of education reform for knowledge- based economy ,which the bank finances it with a loan of $ 120 million, in addition to its contribution
in preparing the technical studies for the program.



Wolfensohn, for his part, praised the economic stability achieved in Jordan which came as the outcome of the reform efforts exerted in the past years. He also affirmed the continuation of the Bank's support for the Jordanian developmental efforts in all fields.



Talks also covered the vital role which could be acted by Jordan in rebuilding Iraq. The King explained that the government has taken measures to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid to Iraqi people via Jordan and to promote the infrastructural services to make Jordan a center for the reconstruction processes in Iraq.



It is noted that the new strategy for the Bank's assistance to Jordan for the coming three years includes various vital projects in the fields of education, transport, water, environment, municipalities and tourism as well as a package of technical assistance to ministries and government departments.



Wolfensohn's visit to Jordan comes upon returning form Iraq where he evaluated the needs for the reconstruction processes in Iraq.