Introduction
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today welcomed the news that His Majesty King Abdullah II bin al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan will visit Ottawa on April 29, 2015.
King Abdullah II’s visit to Canada – his third since his ascension to the throne in February 1999 – will provide an opportunity to highlight the strength of the Canada-Jordan bilateral relationship, and to exchange views on a broad range of regional and international issues such as the fight against the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the impact of the Syrian crisis on Jordan – including the influx of hundreds of thousands of refugees – and international efforts to bring about a negotiated solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
Quick Facts
- Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan enjoy strong bilateral relations based on shared strategic interests, common values and people-to-people ties. Canada values Jordan’s role as a moderate, tolerant and constructive influence in the Middle East and beyond.
- Canada and Jordan are active members of the international coalition of over 60 countries against ISIS and addressing the serious threat to global and regional security that ISIS continues to represent.
- Canada is providing more than $52 million in security assistance support, including towards helping Jordanian authorities provide safe transport of Syrian refugees from the border to registration centres, providing security and other essential services in and around refugee camps, mitigating chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, and enhancing their capacity to conduct counter-terrorism operations.
- In 2014, Canada identified Jordan as one of 25 countries of focus for bilateral development assistance programming. Canada also committed $185 million – over six years – in development assistance to Jordan to reinforce long-term development objectives in education, where Canada plays a leading role; promote sustainable economic growth; and support Jordan’s response to the crisis in Syria.
- Canada commends the Jordanian Government for its generosity in accepting hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria. A significant amount of Canada’s humanitarian assistance – over $76 million– goes to help conflict-affected people in Jordan.
- Jordan has consistently demonstrated its leadership in the pursuit of peace in the Middle East, promoting efforts to bring about a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is one of two Arab countries that has signed a peace treaty with Israel.
- The Canada-Jordan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) entered into force on October 1, 2012 and is Canada’s first FTA with an Arab country. This agreement has created favourable conditions and new opportunities for Canadian-Jordanian commercial relations, resulting in a tripling of Jordanian exports to Canada since the FTA came into force. Total bilateral trade between Canada and Jordan was $141 million in 2014.
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper last met with King Abdullah II on the margins of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in September 2014, in Cardiff (Wales), United Kingdom. The two leaders previously met in Jordan in January 2014 during Prime Minister Harper’s visit to the Middle East. King Abdullah II last visited Canada in July 2007.
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