His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday discussed with German Chancellor Angela Merkel bilateral ties and efforts to bring about a just and permanent peace in the region.
King Abdullah, who returned to Jordan later in the day, reiterated the significance of launching serious negotiations to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in accordance with the two-state solution and within a regional context.
The King emphasised the importance of Europe's role in re-starting negotiations and intensifying international efforts to end regional conflict.
The King underscored that resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the core conflict in the region, is the key to realising comprehensive Middle East peace, adding that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state is the only way to guarantee peace.
King Abdullah and Merkel said Jordan and Germany will continue to work together to support peace efforts in the region.
On bilateral ties, the two leaders stressed their keenness to develop relations across several sectors, especially in the field of economy.
King Abdullah also underlined the importance of Germany's support for Jordan's development and of increasing German investments in infrastructure projects, especially in alternative energy.
At a joint press conference following the meeting, King Abdullah described his talks with Merkel as fruitful.
He said Germany and Europe have a crucial role to play in the coming months to bring Palestinians and Israelis back to the negotiating table, pointing out that the Arab Peace Initiative provides the Israelis with an opportunity to achieve peace with Syria and Lebanon and 57 Arab and Islamic states that do not recognise Israel to date.
The King said he will continue working closely with the German government to help launch negotiations in the near future, stressing that Jordan will be a reliable partner for peace along with Germany and Europe.
He added that joint action involving the Arabs, Europeans and the Americans is under discussion in order to create supportive atmosphere for Palestinians and Israelis to start negotiations and for the Syrians, the Lebanese and other Arab states to take part in such efforts.
King Abdullah said these efforts will be clearer after US President Barack Obama meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington later this month, adding that following that meeting, the Arab states, Europe and the US will move ahead with working out mechanisms to push the peace process forward.
The King said he believed peace-making requires a regional effort because the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is of concern to the entire region.
He added that the Arab and Islamic states are ready to engage in direct negotiations with Israel if the Palestinian issue is resolved on the basis of the two-state solution, saying that this solution is in the vital interest of all, including Israel, Arab nations, Europe and the US.
King Abdullah voiced satisfaction with the quality of bilateral cooperation between Germany and Jordan, saying the German-Jordanian University is a success story of such cooperation. The King also said that development projects in Jordan present opportunities for cooperation with the German private sector.
Merkel, who commended the King's peace efforts, said the talks covered cooperation in the fields of energy and renewable energy and several infrastructure projects such as transport and railway.
Merkel also said Germany supports the two-state solution as a means to realise a peaceful settlement, referring to the US commitment to advancing the peace process.
The Chancellor said if no progress is achieved in the peace process in the Middle East, there will be no progress in reaching a settlement with Iran. She stressed the need for constructive dialogue with Iran but in accordance with specific conditions.
She added that there is a international consensus on the need for a united approach towards the peace process, saying the Israeli prime minister's visit to Germany Thursday would be an opportunity to try to coordinate peace efforts.
Merkel said Germany plans work closely with Jordan and the US to support the peace overture.
Earlier in the day, King Abdullah met with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier for a discussion concerning bilateral ties, stressing his keenness to strengthen further Jordan's ties with Germany. They also discussed Middle East peace-making.
The King said the two-state solution is the best solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict within a regional context and will allow the region's people to enter a new era of prosperity and development that ensures a better, safer and a more secure future.