Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - King Abdullah II on Saturday said that the strength and stability of the Middle East and North Africa region keeps the world more secure, but such stability requires efforts of reforms that would confront the economic challenges and strains of youth unemployment, the greatest economic challenge.

In his remarks in opening the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa held in the Dead Sea, the King said that the world is emerging from an era of historic economic challenge of a global downturn, regional dislocations, and slow recovery in major world economies.

"The job ahead is not simply to rebound. We must spur new growth. Our region's single greatest economic crisis - youth unemployment - pleads for action, double action: immediate relief, to meet urgent needs; and inclusive, high-growth strategies that can produce millions-more jobs we must have, soon," the King said.

The king stressed that the force behind regional opportunity is the expansion of reform that would empower people to build the future they want and free countries to be their "creative, productive best."

"The Arab Spring and its call for human dignity, has become the voice of our century. And the hard work of millions of our people is proving that inclusive, peaceful change is a better path than despair or violence. This is reason to stand proud. But we cannot stand still. Reform, democracy, and peace are always works in progress, and progress demands we keep moving forward," he added.

He stressed that Jordan is taking reform measures that are consensus-driven and law-based, in an effort to inclusive, sustainable change that keeps people secure and improve lives.

On the occasion of Jordan celebrating the 67th Independence Day, King Abdullah II said that Jordan is laying the foundations of effective, party-based, parliamentary government. On economic reform, the King added that the government developed a national economic reform program to respond to economic challenges, including an unforeseeable energy crisis.

He stressed the job creation remains the biggest challenge, a solution to which would be the recognition of the central role of the private sector.

"For more than ten years, [Jordan] has worked to remove barriers to enterprise, adn to integrate into the global and regional economies... For our relatively small country with limited natural resources, openness is a strategic choice. But the entire MENA region profits from working together; to expand regional markets, better manage the environment, and encourage innovation and enterprise. This cooperation is the backbone of sustainable, inclusive growth."

King Abdullah stressed the need for cooperation to maintain security and peace. He said that the region will never be able to put the full resources of its lands into better lives for its people until regional crises are met.

He emphasized the urgent need for a political solution in Syria to stop the country's dangerous fragmentation and to resolve the dire refugee crisis.

Jordan, he noted, hosts 10 percent of its size in Syrian refugees, a number expected to double by year-end if the crisis continues. He highlighted the strain this has put on Jordan.

The King reiterated the core crisis in the region, that is the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. "Extremism everywhere has grown fall off this crisis. It is time to stop feeding its growth."

The King stressed that need for Israel to put an immediate end to settlement building and threats to occupied Jerusalem and its sacred sites. "Good-faith talks must get going. We can and must keep this issue at the top of the international agenda," he added.

The World Economic Forum, held at the Dead Sea in Jordan, takes place between May 24-26, with the participation of around 23 countries, with the theme of "Advancing Conditions for Growth and Resilience."

Over 900 participants representing governments, businesses, civil societies academia, youth and media will take part in the event, which is held in Jordan for the seventh time, to discuss the greater region’s challenges like youth unemployment, transparency, income disparity, private sector development and infrastructure.

The Forum includes 34 sessions in addition to other meetings held on the sidelines of the event.

The World Economic Forum, first conceived in January 1971, encourages businesses, governments and civil society to commit together to improving the state of the world.