President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in the Jordanian capital on Saturday to attend the World Economic Forum special meeting on Economic Growth and Job Creation in the Arab World being held at the Dead Sea resort from Oct. 21 to 23.

President Zardari upon arrival at the Queen Alia airport was received by Secretary General Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Muhammad Thahir, Pakistan’s Ambassador in Amman Ms.Attiya Mehmood and other senior officials.

A smartly turned-out contingent presented guard of honor to President Zardari. He was accompanied by Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Chairman Board of Investment Saleem H Mandviwala.

President Zardari during his three-day official visit besides attending the main session of the World Economic Forum on Saturday will also address a plenary session of the Forum titled “a conversation with the President of Pakistan” and share his thoughts on economic issues.
Recent shifts in the Arab world coupled with an economic contraction at the global level have created renewed urgency for decision makers across the region to address the unfolding economic situation.
As the situation rises to the top of regional agenda, there is an onus to address the fundamental conditions required to revive growth and provide jobs that are needed to accelerate human development.

To respond to these clear and urgent imperatives, the WEF special meeting on Arab world has brought together participants from GCC countries, the Levant and Maghreb, and the international community to focus on best practice in economic policy and reform and to elaborate on concrete ways in which all stakeholders can drive positive outcomes across the region.

Over 1000 participants from more than 50 nations including over 60 public figures and some 340 CEOs are attending WEF meeting.
The President will also hold a bilateral meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan during which the two sides are expected to discuss the whole range of bilateral ties including the ways and means to further strengthen these ties in diverse fields for the mutual benefit of two brotherly nations.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss regional and international issues, particularly the war against terrorism, situation in the Middle East, challenges faced by Muslim Ummah and other matters of mutual interest.

On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, the President is also expected to hold meetings with some Jordanian business executives and senior officials of the Arab trade and economic organizations.
Pakistan and Jordan enjoy close and cordial relations, characterized by a shared sense of history and commonalty of perceptions on important regional and international issues.
The two countries have stood together in times of need. In the contemporary scenario, Pakistan and Jordan share pragmatism in approaches to international and regional situations and their solution.