King Arrives for Davos

Amman
22 January 2004

His Majesty King Abdullah II on Thursday
arrived to Switzerland for participation in the 34th meeting of
world economic forum (WEF) in Davos.



His Majesty is keen, for the fourth time since assumption
of his constitutional powers, to participate in this forum as it
affords a proper place for the Jordanian private sector
to meet with world's senior economic leaders and to work
out partnerships and investment useful for both sides.



On Friday, His Majesty is expected to address the forum ,
where he is going to reaffirm Jordan's view regarding the region's
future, stability and development and means to deal with the challenges
the world is facing.



Earlier today His Majesty met with Swiss President Joseph
Dais , where discussions focused on bilateral relations and the
situation in the region. King Abdullah II stressed Jordan's fixed
stand of rejection to the construction of the segregation Wall.



He described it as ''destruction to the peace process that kills
every existing opportunity to establish an independent Palestinian
state.'' Concerning bilateral relations , His Majesty affirmed
Jordan's keenness on further cementing bilateral relations particularly
in the economic fields. He expressed satisfaction on implementing
the agreements on health, environment and water which the two
countries signed during the state visit His Majesty and Her Majesty
Queen Rania carried out to Switzerland in 2002.



His Majesty expressed regards to President Dais on his
country's support for the economic feasibility study to be performed
for the Dead Sea-Red Sea Canal.



His Majesty met also with Bahraini Crown Prince Salman Bin
Hamad Al Thani , and Qatari Deputy Prime Minster and Minister of
Foreign Affairs Hamad Bin Jasem Al Thani, where discussions focused
on bilateral relations and means to support Arab Business Council.



King Abdullah met also with JICA General Director Sadako Ogata
, where he expressed regards on JICA's support to Jordanian
projects in the fields of water , education and information technology.



He expressed Jordan's readiness to offer all forms of support
and facilities to JICA bureau , opened two months ago in Iraq.



His Majesty expressed thanks to the Japanese government for
the support presented to Jordan, particularly in the difficult
situations during war against Iraq. He showed the will to continue
the course of cementing bilateral relations which the two countries
have marked their fiftieth anniversary last year.



His Majesty met with the executive director of Sisco
Systems John Chambers, and Director of Micro Soft Bill Gates, whose
firms adopt the Jordanian education initiative , to review the
initiative's latest developments and opportunities of investment
in the field of telecommunications and information technology
in Jordan.



On Friday, His Majesty will sponsor another review on the
latest developments regarding the education initiative in Jordan.



His Majesty met also with Deputy Director of Boeing Tomas
Pekering to discuss prospects of investment in the field of
aviation in Jordan, including potentials of establishing a Boeing
regional training institute in Amman.



His Majesty met with the group of new Asian economic
leaders , where he was briefed on the preparations for the
joint conference to be held with Arab businessmen in Malaysia
next month under His Majesty's sponsorship. The group showed
readiness to develop relations with Jordan , particularly in the
field of information technology, and showed readiness to finance
30 scholarships for Jordanian students in fields to be agreed
upon later with the Jordanian government.