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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Saturday (April 16) kick-started his week-long visit to the Middle East with a cultural programme at the ancient city of Petra in Jordan.

Petra, which was accorded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1985, is one of Jordan’s most significant historical landmark and the country’s number one tourist attraction.

The city began prospering as early as 312 BC as the capital of the ancient Nabataean Empire. As a trade centre, Petra linked China, India, Southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome. It was later annexed by the Roman empire and an earthquake subsequently destroyed most of the city.

Excavations have showed that the inhabitants of the city were able to control their water supply by creating an artificial oasis. They used dams, cisterns and water conduits to store water during periods of drought. The fact that Hollywood blockbuster movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) was shot mostly in Petra further increased its popularity as a tourism destination.

PM Lee and Mrs Lee were accompanied by Mr Nayef H Al-fayez, Minister at Jordan’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, who is also the Minister In Attendance to PM Lee while he is in Jordan.

This is PM Lee’s first official visit to Jordan. The last high-level visit by a Singaporean leader to Jordan was by then President S R Nathan in 2006.

On Saturday night (Jordan time), Mr Lee will host a reception for more than 100 Singaporean university students studying in Jordan.

On Sunday, Mr Lee will be hosted to lunch by King Abdullah II. He will also meet Prime Minister and Defence Minister Abdullah Ensour, who will host dinner for him.

Mr Lee will meet Chief Advisor for Religious and Cultural Affairs Prince Ghazi Bin Muhammad Bin Talal on Monday, before proceeding to Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

*Today