His Majesty King Abdullah II and US President George W. Bush held talks today in the Egyptian seaside resort of Sharm El Sheikh.

The talks focussed on efforts to advance the peace process in the Middle East and negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel.

During the meeting, which took place on the margins of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East, King Abdullah and President Bush also discussed developments in Lebanon and Iraq.

The King underscored the importance of continued American support for efforts to achieve tangible progress in the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, with the end goal of reaching a peace agreement that addresses final-status issues and leads to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

King Abdullah stressed the need for Israel to take tangible and serious steps towards improving the living standards and economic conditions of the Palestinian people, in addition to removing obstacles that hinder progress in the peace process, foremost of which are settlement activity in the West Bank, the economic blockade and other violations against the Palestinians.

The King and President Bush also discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations in various sectors.