US President George W. Bush saidon Saturday that the creation of a Palestinian state living in peace and security with Israel will be a priority in his second term.

During a brief joint public appearance in the White House afterhis talks with visiting Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, Bushsaid he "assured President Musharraf that there is an opportunity at hand to work toward the development of a Palestinian state and peace in the Middle East."

"I told him that this will be a priority of my administration. The goal is two states living side by side in peace and security,"Bush said.

For his part, Musharraf said President Bush has come to the view that the creation of a Palestinian state is "the core issue" for defeating global terrorism.

"I think the president himself said that this is the core issue,the core at fighting terrorism is resolution of the Palestinian dispute. I am very glad that the president is absolutely aware of it, and he is aware of his own role to bring world peace through resolution of the Palestinian dispute, creation of a Palestinian state," Musharraf said.

"As far as Pakistan is concerned, we are very clear that we believe in the right of Palestinians and the Israelis to have their own states. Within that, whatever I can do, I will contribute, but I am very glad to say that president Bush is absolutely concerned and he thinks that it's a priority with him to resolve the Palestinian dispute and create a Palestinian state," he added.

Musharraf, who visited the United States to congratulate Bush for his re-election and who has been a strong ally in the war against terrorism, has urged the Bush administration to make a strong public commitment to take a more active role in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

US Vice President Dick Cheney, outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld attended the meeting.

Source: Xinhua