His Majesty King Abdullah on Saturday appealed for a new development partnership between the G-11, a group of lower-middle income countries, and the industrialized nations of the G-8.

Such a partnership would signal to the world that that "the friends of development will not be satisfied until the house of prosperity is really open to all, that our countries are not simply welcomed up the path; not simply left at the door; but invited, gladly, over the threshold and into the house," King Abdullah said.

The King was addressing a summit of G-11 countries on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum at the Dead Sea. The meeting was attended by G-11 heads of state, or their delegates, and representatives from Germany and Japan, the current and future heads of the G-8, respectively. The G- 11 groups developing countries whose commitment to reform has resulted in substantial economic and social gains, but which remain vulnerable to numerous pressures that could threaten to undermine development gains. The G-8 presidency has extended an invitation to the G-11 presidency, currently held by Jordan, to discuss the establishment of a formal, institutional relationship between the two groups in Berlin later this year.

For all the countries of the G-11, King Abdullah said, the budgetary space necessary to deepen investments in development and growth "has been squeezed by fiscal and other constraints - high debt burdens; rising oil prices and other external shocks; rising employment demand; and more." He said this challenge made international support for continuing progress "vital".

The G-11 - grouping Croatia, El Salvador, Ecuador, Georgia, Honduras, Indonesia, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, Paraguay and Sri Lanka - is an initiative of the King. It was inaugurated last autumn on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, and since then has identified four priority areas for international support and cooperation: debt burden alleviation; investment promotion, trade development, and targeted grant assistance.

"These are the basics for self-sustaining prosperity, supporting the foundations for reform, opening new opportunities for millions more people to escape poverty, and enabling our young people to build strong futures," King Abdullah said, adding that the G-11 was proposing specific initiatives in each area that could serve as a foundation for G-8/G-11 cooperation. These include investment in infrastructure, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, scientific research and development, and technology transfer.