Remarks at the Expanded Working Lunch Hosted by PM Lee Hsien Loong

بسم ﷲ الرحمن الرحيم

Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, for your kind words and invitation.

Your Excellencies,

We have been greeted with such warmth and hospitality since we arrived in Singapore.  It is a great honor, for me and the delegation, to be here on my much-awaited visit.

Our relations are deeply rooted in common values. I am pleased to see our friendship grow over the years, and to be here today working together towards the betterment and prosperity of our nations; a central quest that we both eagerly seek for our peoples.

Today, we meet at a difficult time for our region: The heart-rending scenes coming out of Gaza, the massive loss of innocent lives, the unspeakable daily suffering, the deliberate destruction of not only the essential infrastructure, but also of culture, heritage and places of worship, not to mention the shattering of dreams and hopes of entire generations. 

The bloodshed must cease. The suffering must end. The internally displaced must return. The deprived rights must be restored.

These critical times require collective action and combined strengths towards the common good; a good that is achieved by equal and unselective adherence to international laws and norms.  We are in dire need for voices of wisdom and empathy to prevail over those of division and apathy.

His Majesty has dedicated all efforts to bring the Palestinian cause to the forefront across all international platforms. Five years ago, addressing the International Conference on Cohesive Societies in Singapore, His Majesty stressed that the core crisis of our region is the long denial of Palestinian statehood, and that the continuation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict fuels global discord and radicalism. Past and present series of violence prove that this is the case. The two-state solution is the way forward, a position that both Jordan and Singapore stand for.

Shoulder to shoulder with allies and friends, Jordan is sparing no effort towards regional peace and security. Here, I would like to take this opportunity to express Jordan’s appreciation for Singapore’s vote in favor of the Jordan-led UNGA Resolution, and for your support of the humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza.

Bilaterally, I am glad that we are witnessing new opportunities that will open up additional synergies and connections between our countries, covering a wide range of domains.

Jordan is keen to exchange knowledge with Singapore, a truly impressive model of modernization. The trip has been rich and fruitful, and I look forward to harnessing our engagements to propel growth, advancement, and empowering youth who are the architects of tomorrow's workforce.

“May this year bring us peace and harmony as we fulfil our collective duty in serving humanity”.