MFA Press Statement: Visit of SMS Zainul Abidin Rasheed to Jordan, 17 - 21 June 2008

Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed made a working visit to Jordan from 17-21 June 2008 to strengthen bilateral ties and attend the 4th Nobel Laureates Conference in Petra. In Petra, SMS Zainul met His Majesty King Abdullah II, who had opened the Conference. SMS Zainul also met Prime Minister Nader Dahabi, Foreign Minister Dr Salaheddin Al-Bashir and Chief of the Royal Hashemite Court Dr Bassem Awadallah to discuss cooperation in bilateral relations and the Asia Middle East Dialogue (AMED). On AMED, both sides agreed to sustain the momentum generated by the Sharm El Sheikh ministerial meeting in April 2008. Jordan will be hosting the next meeting of the Social, Educational, Scientific, Cultural, Environmental and Media (SESCEM) Issues Working Group, which is co-chaired by Jordan and Singapore. Both sides also noted the progress of the AMED Regional Vocational Training Centre in Marka. Two training programmes have been conducted since the centre's inauguration in October 2007, and another is scheduled to be held at the end of 2008.

In Amman, SMS Zainul was hosted to a lunch meeting by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal, Personal Envoy and Special Advisor to His Majesty King Abdullah II. They discussed developments in inter-faith and inter-civilisational dialogue. SMS Zainul also met with Middle East experts and the Islamica Magazine editorial team. Published in the English language, the Islamica Magazine is a forum for international affairs opinion and analysis from an Islamic perspective, and has been internationally acclaimed.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
21 JUNE 2008