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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - His Majesty King Abdullah II concluded a working trip to the United States in which he held talks with President Donald Trump and senior administration and Congressional leaders.

In their talks, held on the sidelines of the 2017 National Prayer Breakfast, the two leaders underlined the need to enhance the strategic Jordanian-US partnership and to work jointly in the fight against terrorism. They stressed the need to work toward achieving security to the Syrian people and ramp up efforts to breathe new life into the stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace process.

In a speech he delivered on Thursday at a luncheon that followed the National Prayer Breakfast in the presence Her Majesty Queen Rania, King Abdullah said it is important "to renew our global neighbourhood, focusing on what unites us, not what divides us, and standing together to get the job done." He also told the gathering of political, intellectual and religious leaders that "among its many beautiful gifts, Islam, as with other faiths, commands mercy and tolerance, calls to honour the dignity of every person, forbids coercion in religion and demands respect for the houses of God".

Also in a meeting, King Abdullah and US Vice President Mike Pence underscored the US-Jordanian partnership and Washington's role to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East.

His Majesty also held talks with US Defence Secretary James Mattis that focused on mechanisms of coordination and cooperation between Amman and Washington in addressing the various developments the Middle East is witnessing and bring about regional peace and security.

In a series of meetings with leaders of various Senate and House committees, the King outlined his vision vis-a-vis regional crises and also discussed various aspects of cooperation between the two countries.

On the Palestinian issue, he warned against policies that would add to the frustration in the Palestinian arena as a result of the stalled peace process.

He cautioned against the consequences of relocating the US embassy to Jerusalem that would ignite fury among Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims, jeopardize the two-state solution and play into the hands of terrorists.

King Abdullah told the US lawmakers that terrorism is not confined to the Arab region, pointing out that Muslims are the prime victim of terrorism and stressing that the khawarej (outlaws) of Islam do not represent the faith, whatsoever.

The challenge ahead, he said, lies in stepped up international cooperation and the exchange of information to combat terrorism, which is not associated with any particular nationality or foreign group.

On Syria, he said the success of a ceasefire in the country is necessary to ensure the security and safety of the Syrian people and launch the peace process, stressing that Jordan supported the Astana meetings and sees that Russia has a key role in that endeavour. He emphasised cooperation between Washington, Moscow and the international community to make progress in the ceasefire towards reaching a political solution within the Geneva negotiating track.

King Abdullah also briefed the US lawmakers about the challenges facing Jordan as a result of regional crises and hosting a large number of Syrian refugees at a time the Kingdom reels from tough economic conditions and a financial programme that requires increased aid from the world community.

The meetings with the various congressional committees also dealt with renewing a memorandum of understanding that sets US economic and military aid to Jordan in the medium term.

The US lawmakers said they valued Jordan's pivotal role in efforts to achieve regional peace and stability.

The King's Washington visit was preceded by a trip to Moscow where he held summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also paid a brief trip to London and met the British foreign and defence secretaries.