ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari welcomed King Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein of Jordan to Aiwan-e-Sadr on Sunday, marking the significant state visit aimed at strengthening ties between Pakistan and Jordan.

King Abdullah was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, Chief Advisor for Religious and Cultural Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Major General Yousef Huneiti, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chairman of Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, army chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and others.

Both the leaders during their meeting underscored the longstanding and warm relations between their countries, agreeing on the need to further enhance cooperation in trade, culture and people-to-people exchanges. They also discussed regional and international issues, focusing on the ongoing crisis in Gaza and their shared support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Both leaders called for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, while rejecting the displacement of Palestinians.

The talks also emphasized the importance of multilateral cooperation on global issues such as humanitarian aid and climate change, with both sides committed to working together within international forums to address these challenges.

A highlight of the visit was the prestigious investiture ceremony, during which President Zardari conferred the Nishan-e-Pakistan, Pakistan’s highest civilian honor, upon King Abdullah II in recognition of his leadership and the strengthening of Jordan-Pakistan relations.

In a reciprocal gesture, King Abdullah awarded President Zardari the Wisam al-Nahdah al-Mursa‘ (Order of the Renaissance), a distinguished honor given to heads of state and notable dignitaries.–APP