His Majesty King Abdullah held talks on Tuesday with Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso, focusing on means to boost bilateral economic relations and regional developments.

The King, who concluded a several-day visit to Tokyo on Tuesday, expressed appreciation for Japan's support to the Jordanian economy.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed means to enhance cooperation on development projects in Jordan in the fields of nuclear energy, water and infrastructure.

The discussions, attended by Their Royal Highnesses Prince Feisal, Princess Raiyah and King's Adviser Prince Ghazi, focused on how Japan can contribute to such projects.

Reiterating Jordan's keenness to advance bilateral cooperation, King Abdullah and the Japanese premier dicussed steps that could be taken to achieve desired goals.

At the meeting, King Abdullah briefed Aso on Jordan's plans and programmes for the development of various sectors.

On regional developments, King Abdullah reiterated the need to start serious and effective negotiations right away in order to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, on the basis of the two-state solution and in accordance with related international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Stressing the urgent need for immediate action, the King emphasised that the international community needs to take practical steps to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli issue, underlining the role Japan can play in this regard.

Japan's prime minister stressed his country's continued support for Jordan, describing the relation between the two countries as “historic”.

The meeting was also attended by Royal Court Chief Nasser Lozi, the King's Adviser Ayman Safadi, and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Suhair Al-Ali and Jordan's Charge d'Affaires in Tokyo Dimai Haddad.

In a statement to Jordan Television, Al-Ali referred to a cooperation agreement to provide training to Jordanian personnel working in the nuclear energy sector, signed by Jordan and Japan on the sidelines of the visit.

Toru Ishida, director general of the Japanese Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, who signed the nuclear deal with Al-Ali, called it a further boost in relations as it would secure Japanese expertise to Jordan in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.