His Majesty King Abdullah II will start a working visit to the United States at the end of February, during which he will hold talks at the White House with US President George W. Bush on ways to advance Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations and other developments in the Middle East.

The meeting will also focus on strengthening bilateral ties, especially in the economic field.

King Abdullah, accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Rania, will start the several-day visit on 28 February with a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York on expanding the UN's efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and foster Middle East peace and stability.

In New Jersey, the King will deliver a policy address at Princeton University, sponsored by Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. King Abdullah will address the future of Arab-American relations in the context of the Middle East's current challenges, particularly how to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which Jordan views as the most significant challenge to the security and stability of the region.

In Washington D.C., the King will meet President Bush and key administration officials to discuss means to push the peace process towards a comprehensive peace agreement that addresses all aspects of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, leads to the establishment of a viable and independent Palestinian state on Palestinian land and paves the way for resolving other tracks of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

The King will also discuss ways to support the Palestinian National Authority, strengthen Palestinian national institutions and alleviate the Palestinian people's difficult living conditions.

His talks with members of both houses of the US Congress will focus on developing bilateral ties in the interest of both friendly countries.

King Abdullah is also scheduled to meet with representatives of Muslim and Jewish organizations in the US to explore the role they can play in fostering peace opportunities in the region and strengthening bridges of dialogue, understanding, tolerance and coexistence between the Arab and Muslim worlds and the West.