King, Queen accompany King Harald V, Queen Sonja on visit to Baptism Site

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah and Her Majesty Queen Rania on Tuesday accompanied King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway on a visit to the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ in Bethany Beyond the Jordan.

During the visit, King Abdullah noted the importance of promoting tourism between Jordan and Norway, especially religious tourism, and receiving more Christian pilgrims to the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ, among other holy sites, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty stressed the need to protect the Christian presence in the region, as it is an integral part of the Middle East’s social fabric and future.

The King and the Norwegian monarch — accompanied by Queen Rania and Queen Sonja, as well as Their Royal Highnesses Prince Ali, the escort of honour, and Prince Ghazi, His Majesty’s chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs and personal envoy, and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Baptism Site Commission — toured a number of locations at the site, including the Jordan River, the place where Jesus was baptised and churches built to commemorate the baptism.

 During the tour, King Abdullah and King Harald V were briefed on the religious and archaeological significance of the Baptism Site.

Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi, Adviser to His Majesty for Communication and Coordination Bisher Al Khasawneh, and Adviser to His Majesty for Policies and Media Kamal Al Nasser accompanied His Majesty on the visit.