President Asif Ali Zardari has conferred Pakistan’s highest civilian award upon Jordanian King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein in recognition of his contributions to strengthening bilateral ties and regional and global peace.
According to the media reports, he conferred the Nishan-e-Pakistan upon King Abdullah II at a special ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Sunday. The Jordanian king also conferred the Wisam al-Nahdah al-Mursa (Bejewelled Grand Cordon of Al Nahdah) on President Zardari.
Before the ceremony, the two leaders held a meeting to review regional and international developments, with particular focus on peace and security in the Middle East.
The Jordanian king voiced pride in the deep-rooted ties between Jordan and Pakistan, saying that Jordan was keen to expand cooperation across various sectors.
President Zardari and King Abdullah II emphasised the importance of bolstering cooperation at multilateral forums and for humanitarian causes. The two leaders agreed to maintain close coordination on bilateral, regional and global issues. They reiterated their strong support for a two-state solution for Palestinians. They agreed to reject any plan involving the displacement of Palestinians.
They called for the establishment of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine on the pre-June 1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Earlier, President Zardari hosted a luncheon reception for the Jordanian King. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir also attended the ceremony.
