Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Prime Minister, Omar Razzaz, on Thursday met with Canadian House of Commons Speaker, Geoff Regan, and the accompanying delegation to discuss the "distinguished" bilateral ties and prospects of enhancing them to best serve the two countries' interests.

During the meeting, which was attended by Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs, Musa Maaytah, and Canadian ambassador to Amman, Peter MacDougall, Razzaz expressed Jordan's gratitude to Canada for its support of Jordan.

Razzaz also praised Canada's support to UNRWA and its increase of financial contribution to back the organization's budget, and said Jordan views the Agency " an advocator on the Palestinian cause and the Palestinians' right to return to their homeland".

The Premier highlighted the burdens Jordan is shouldering due to instability in the Middle East and the influx of Syrian refugees, and said Jordan is carrying out those duties on behalf of the international community.

Canada has been at the forefront of the countries that supported Jordan to continue to provide basic services to refugees, he added.

The PM also affirmed that Jordan, under His Majesty King Abdullah II's leadership, is keen to boost its democratic experience, political reforms, and support political parties to achieve a parliamentary government.

He expressed Jordan's keenness to learn from Canadian expertise on involving youth in politics and creating a democratic culture.

For his part, Regan said his country has been following His Majesty's efforts to bolster security and stability in the region and enhance development in Jordan.

He expressed Canada's appreciation for Jordan's "humane" role in hosting refugees and providing services for them despite the tough economic circumstances.

He praised Jordan's keenness to enhance democracy, voicing his country's willingness to exchange parliamentary and academic expertise.

He noted Canada is carrying out a program to train parliamentarians and an initiative to receive overseas students to boost their involvement in public life.