His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday received a delegation from the board of trustees of the World Affairs Council, at Al Husseiniya Palace, and discussed domestic and regional issues, and international developments.

At the meeting, which covered a number of challenges Jordan is facing and ways to address them, King Abdullah stressed that Jordan has been facing challenging conditions since its establishment but has proven its resilience and ability to overcome all challenges.

His Majesty also discussed economic challenges facing Jordan, noting royal directives to the government to reach out transparently to the public and follow up on their needs.

The King underlined that the priority is to stimulate economic growth, create job opportunities for Jordanians, and improve the services provided to citizens.

His Majesty reaffirmed Jordan’s steadfast position on the centrality of the Palestinian cause, stressing that the two-state solution, leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital, is the only way to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The King said the subject of a confederation resurfaces from time to time, reiterating the question: “A confederation with whom?”

His Majesty added that he is heading to New York soon to participate in the 73rd Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations and to meet with world leaders on its sidelines to discuss the Palestinian cause and means to support UNRWA, as well as the Syrian refugee crisis.

The King said conditions in southern Syria are gradually stabilising, stressing the importance of stepping up efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves the country’s unity and stability, and meets the aspirations of the Syrian people to live in their homeland in peace and security.

For their part, the delegation members, who included former prime ministers and senior officials, commended His Majesty’s steadfast positions on the Palestinian cause and Jerusalem, stressing Jordan’s ability to navigate regional crises.

Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi and Adviser to His Majesty and Director of the Office of His Majesty Manar Dabbas attended the meeting.

Established in 1997, the World Affairs Council is an independent association that seeks to contribute to national dialogue on domestic and international issues, while highlighting Jordan’s role as part of the international community.