• Cleverly praised Jordan’s efforts in hosting refugees and providing healthcare and education for them

Arab News

AMMAN: Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Thursday received the UK’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, the Jordan News Agency reported.

Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, and British Ambassador to Jordan Bridget Brind also attended the meeting.

King Abdullah stressed his country’s deep-rooted ties with the UK, expressing a desire to expand cooperation across several sectors and maintain coordination in the service of common interests.

He also paid tribute to the UK’s economic and development support for Jordan, as well as the assistance it provides for refugees.

Discussions covered the latest regional and international developments, including the importance of encouraging calm in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and ceasing unilateral measures that could jeopardize the prospects of stability and peace.

King Abdullah reaffirmed the need to achieve a just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution, which ensures the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The meeting also focused on the refugee crisis, its impact on host communities, and the significance of continuing international aid for refugees.

Cleverly praised Jordan’s efforts in hosting refugees and providing healthcare and education for them, and the country’s role in working toward peace in the region. 

Cleverly began a three-day tour to the Middle East on Tuesday to boost the UK’s ties in the region.

The trip — to Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan — comes after the UK government announced that citizens of Gulf countries and Jordan will benefit from a new electronic travel authorization visa scheme.