Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania on Sunday met with New Zealand Governor General Lt. Gen. Sir Jerry Mateparae and his spouse, Janine, currently on an official visit to the Kingdom as part of a regional tour.

King Abdullah and Mateparae discussed bilateral cooperation and means to develop ties at all levels to best serve the interests of the two countries.

His Majesty highlighted opportunities to build on Jordanian-New Zealand relations, particularly in the fields of tourism, education and renewable energy.

Discussions also covered the latest developments in the region and efforts to bring about peace, in addition to the situation in Syria.

The King underlined Jordan’s support for a comprehensive political solution to the Syrian crisis in order to end the bloodshed and guarantee the unity and cohesion of its people.

His Majesty warned against the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on the entire region and the burden that Jordan bears due to the growing influx of Syrian refugees, expressing his appreciation for the support of countries such as New Zealand, which are helping the Kingdom provide services for the refugees.

The King said the “centrality” of the Palestinian cause requires more effort from the international community to help Palestinians and Israelis return to the negotiating table, pursuing peace according to the two-state solution, with the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state on its national soil that lives side-by-side with Israel.

For his part, the New Zealand’s governor commended the King’s role in bringing peace and stability in the region and invited His Majesty to pay a visit to his country.

He stressed his country’s commitment to developing cooperation with Jordan.

Upon their arrival at the Royal Offices at Hummar, the Governor General of New Zealand and his spouse were accorded full honours during an official ceremony led by Their Majesties and attended by senior officials.