Speech of His Majesty King Abdullah II Before the Lord Mayor of London and Guests

My Lord Mayor,

It is an honour for Rania, myself and the entire delegation to be here with you this evening at Guildhall. This historical surrounding testifies to the living tradition of finance and commerce of the City of London, and proves beyond doubt, its dynamism, in adapting to change, and adopting modernity. The resilience shown in re-building and preserving this landmark is yet another sign of the commitment of this great nation to construct what others have chosen to destroy, and to restore stability and hope, to areas of conflict and despair.

To us, believers in a faith of acceptance, tolerance, and forgiveness, this is a manifestation of a great civilisation that we admire, share, and respect. It is a symbol of enterprise and trade, of cooperation and interdependence, and most importantly perhaps, of human interaction in its most positive aspect. It also serves as a reminder at these most testing and difficult of times, of the universal values that bind us all to be as one, in the face of evil and destruction. It echoes the lessons of the past, and underlines the need for better understanding and dialogue among nations, religions and cultures.

My Lord Mayor,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

This evening, I am proud to convey to you the friendship of the people of Jordan, who have long respected your culture, and always admired your achievements. They have resolved to be faithful to their beliefs and ideals, and at the same time, to continue to build bridges of cooperation, trust and dialogue with different cultures and nations. The people of Jordan, Lord Mayor, have embraced positive change as the way forward towards a future of productivity, prosperity and fulfilment. They are at peace with themselves, their neighbours and the surrounding community of nations. My people cherish their democracy and inclusive civil society, and continuously endeavour to promote national consensus. They have decided to harness the talents of their young and develop their skills, for them to become solid pillars for a bright future. Jordanians have initiated enterprises that generate employment, promote the transfer of know-how, increase productivity and enhance national exports to the outside world. They have embarked on a process of e-learning and have pioneered information technology in our region. The results are very encouraging indeed. The leading economic indicators are positive, and investment opportunities are meeting the expectations of international capital. Still, major challenges lie ahead, a fact that has reinforced our commitment to accelerate the process of reform, and to articulate it explicitly in the national budget of the coming year. We are determined to build a modern liveable society that offers opportunities for all and that guarantees its citizens the stability and prosperity that they expect.

My Lord Mayor,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Jordan is proud of its long and strong tie to the United Kingdom. Your support, past and present, has been pivotal for achieving success and becoming a model for the region. We continue to count on the United Kingdom to perform a leading role in the establishment of a just peace in our region, where security and stability are guaranteed by the restoration of the rights of the Palestinian people, particularly the right for a viable state on their land. We also count on our friends in Britain to be effective partners for us and our Mediterranean neighbours in the political, economic and cultural domains, so well articulated in the European-Mediterranean Partnership Process. Our private sector holds so much hope for joint ventures with their British counterparts, and our youth hold considerable promise in seeking knowledge from your centres of excellence. We are grateful for this opportunity, which has allowed us once more to reinforce the ties that bind, and to cherish the traditions that unify us together in the face of the challenges ahead.

I thank you for your invitation and for your support and would like to propose a toast:

To the Lord Mayor and the Corporation of London.