His Majesty King Abdullah and US President George W. Bush discussed on Thursday efforts to build on the outcome of the Annapolis peace meeting held on Tuesday.

In a telephone conversation, King Abdullah underscored the importance of seizing the opportunity made available by the meeting, which, he said, attracted large Arab and international participation and witnessed the launch of a comprehensive peace process in accordance with a specific time frame leading to establishing an independent Palestinian state.

His Majesty voiced his appreciation for efforts by President Bush and US Secretary of Sate Condoleezza Rice for holding the Annapolis meeting, noting that the event has clearly showed the US administration's commitment to achieving peace between the Palestinians and Israelis.

The King also emphasised the need to intensify international efforts in the coming stage to eventually put an end to the Israeli occupation of the Arab lands and end the decades-long Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Also today, His Majesty called for enabling the Palestinians to exercise their fundamental and legitimate rights in determining their own destiny and live in an independent state on their national soil.

The King made the remarks in a letter he sent to President of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People Paul Badji on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.