By Qiang Pen (Shanghai Start)
Updated: 2007-09-08 06:30

The Queen of Jordan Rania Al Abdullah addressed hundreds of business leaders, scholars and government officials at the Summer Davos yesterday, calling on them to adopt a new global "moral language of the conscience" to help bridge the growing divide between the Muslim world and the West.

Queen Rania also urged the audience to carry the spirit of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, its slogan being "One World, One Dream".

"As an Arab, a Muslim and a member of the global community, the schism that worries me most is the growing gulf of fear and misunderstanding between the Muslim world and the West our failure to speak the same language our failure to find common ground in our conversation our failure to see eye to eye," she said.

Jordan and China are celebrating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between them.

Queen Rania drew on the commonalities between the two countries and emphasized China's achievements.

"Today, the people of China are writing a bold new chapter in their history and navigating one of the most exciting journeys in the course of human development," she said.

"I hope that when you leave Dalian and return to your countries, you too are infused with the Olympic spirit and will join your voices with those of 1.3 billion Chinese people all calling 'One World, One Dream' so that Beijing's legacy to the world is more than a wonderful Olympic arena more than words of harmony and hope, but the foundation of a new world team - one that is joined together by mutual respect, common goals and shared understanding."

Queen Rania said the power of the individual was evident in the new generation of companies that will fundamentally change the global competitive landscape.

She said she hoped that these champions would use their success to help build an "innovative future that will reflect the timeless wisdom of the past".

Queen Rania also gave several examples as to how "global conversation" was lagging - illustrating the prevalent misperceptions and the lack of common understanding between the Muslim world and West.

One such misconception was the veil, commonly worn by many Muslim women, as a form of religious expression.

"Too many in the West mistakenly perceive it as a sign of oppression and compliance," she said.

She asserted that such misconceptions are due to missing "moral language of the conscience, the graceful conversation of the hearts, and the humanitarian perspective that helps us to see through another person's eye".

Queen Rania urged the young leaders in the audience to help address this perception gap and create a positive impact.

"I am convinced that your voices can help change the global conversation and reassert the basic values that are at the heart of our common humanity - the ABCs of a common language," she said.

"You can be 'New Champions' of not only commerce, but of conciliation; not only of trade but of tolerance; not only of profit, but of peace and understanding."

(Shanghai Start 09/07/2007 page1)