His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday met with EU foreign policy chief Baroness Catherine Ashton, who is heading the EU Task Force currently visiting the Kingdom for talks on closer political, economic and cultural cooperation.

The King and Ashton voiced keenness to promote partnership and cooperation between Jordan and the EU, 10 years after the signing of the partnership agreement between the two sides.

The EU official briefed His Majesty on the meeting of the EU-Jordan Task Force held at the Dead Sea shores today. The King and the EU foreign policy chief discussed means of activating Jordan's advanced status with the EU and helping the Kingdom press ahead with the reform process. Their talks were attended by Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh and other top officials,

King Abdullah expressed appreciation for the EU's continued support for Jordan’s comprehensive reform process. Jordan, the King said, seeks to set a model of reform and good governance and attaches major importance to achieving economic reforms that address poverty and unemployment.

Ashton, for her part, said she highly valued the Jordanian-European dialogue launched today as well as steps taken by His Majesty to enhance public participation in decision making. She said that the success of Jordan's reform efforts is important to Europe and affirmed the EU's support for these efforts.

The EU-Jordan Task Force was set up to help address the challenges Jordan is facing in the political and economic reform process. It also aims to coordinate more efficiently the support of the EU, of its member States and a number of European and international bodies, with a particular focus on short- and mid-term polices and initiatives adopted by the Jordanian government.