PM marks successful visit to Canada by His Majesty King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
April 29, 2015
Ottawa, OntarioIntroduction
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today marked the conclusion of a highly productive one-day visit to Canada by His Majesty King Abdullah II bin al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The visit was His Majesty’s third visit to Canada.
During the visit, Prime Minister Harper and King Abdullah II discussed the Canada-Jordan bilateral relationship and a broad range of regional and international matters, including the fight against the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the influx of hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees into Jordan.
Prime Minister Harper announced a series of initiatives that will assist Jordan with security and development challenges resulting from ISIS’ actions and the Syrian crisis. The two countries also announced a memorandum of understanding on development cooperation effectiveness that will formalize the overarching framework for the Canada-Jordan development cooperation relationship, and the launch of negotiations toward an audiovisual coproduction treaty.
Quick Facts
- Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan enjoy strong bilateral relations based on shared strategic interests, a common commitment to peace and security and strong people-to-people ties between our two countries. Canada values Jordan’s role as a moderate, tolerant and constructive influence in the Middle East and beyond.
- Canada and Jordan are active members of the international coalition of over 60 countries addressing the serious threat to global and regional security that ISIS continues to represent.
- In 2014, Canada identified Jordan as one of 25 countries of focus for bilateral development assistance programming. Canada also committed significant support in development assistance to Jordan to reinforce long-term development objectives in education, where Canada plays a leading role; promote sustainable economic growth; and support Jordan’s efforts to cope with spillover from the crises in Syria and Iraq.
- Canada commends Jordan for its generosity in accepting hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria. A significant amount of Canada’s humanitarian assistance goes to help conflict-affected people in Jordan.
- Canada is also providing security assistance to Jordan including to help Jordanian authorities provide safe transport of refugees from the border to registration centres, provide security and other essential services in and around refugee camps, mitigate chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, and enhance their capacity to conduct counter-terrorism operations.
- Jordan has consistently demonstrated its leadership in the pursuit of peace in the Middle East, promoting efforts to bring about a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is one of two Arab countries that have signed a peace treaty with Israel.
- The Canada-Jordan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) entered into force on October 1, 2012 and is Canada’s first FTA with an Arab country. This agreement provides Canadian businesses with greater access to markets in Jordan and throughout the region, creating new opportunities for the Canada-Jordan bilateral trade partnership.
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper last met with King Abdullah II on the margins of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in September 2014, in Cardiff (Wales), United Kingdom. The two leaders previously met in Jordan in January 2014 during Prime Minister Harper’s visit to the Middle East. King Abdullah II last visited Canada in July 2007.
Quote
“Canada is proud to stand alongside Jordan and our other Coalition allies in the fight against ISIS, and to work together at mitigating the suffering this barbaric terrorist group is causing innocent civilians in the region. The initiatives being announced today will help Jordan address the security and development needs it is facing and will further deepen ties between our countries.” – Prime Minister Stephen Harper
