Amman - Jordan's King Abdullah II met Monday US Defence Secretary Robert Gates and stressed the importance of Washington's role in helping the Palestinians and Israel to achieve the two-state goal, according to royal court statement.

"While reviewing latest Middle East developments with Gates, the monarch underscored the importance of the US role in current efforts aimed at resolving the Palestinian- Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state vision and in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and the Arab peace initiative," the statement said.

King Abdullah pointed out that "finding a just solution to the Palestinian question that leads to the creation of an independent and viable Palestinian state on the Palestinian national soil is key to the establishment of peace and security in the region".

King Abdullah and Gates also discussed "means of boosting bilateral ties in the sphere of defence", the statement said.

Gates flew to Jordan from Israel in the course of a regional tour. (dpa)