CAIRO, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. State of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met and held talks in southern Egypt's Luxor city Monday on overall Middle East situation.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit told reporters after the meeting that Rice and Mubarak discussed the overall situation in the region, particularly how to manage the situation in Iraq and secure the war-torn country's stability.
The U.S. side has explained the aspects of U.S. President George W. Bush's new Iraqi plan, the principles it rests upon and the logic it revolves around, Abul Gheit said, adding "Egypt hopes the plan will lead to the required level of stability in Iraq."
The talks also dwelt on Rice's talks with Palestinian and Israeli leaders on dealing with their relationship to advance peace and her vision in this regard, the Egyptian top diplomat said at a joint press conference with Rice.
For her part, Rice said the United States believes that its friends in the region will share common responsibility, interest and strategy to go forward on the Mideast issue, as well as form a natural alliance and keep unified in Iraq.
Rice said she will bring together the Israeli and Palestinian leaders in the coming weeks for a summit dedicated to exploring ideas for an eventual Palestinian state.
The summit with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would take place "relatively soon", but did not set a date, she noted, stressing that her talks during the Mideast tour dealt with laying the groundwork for "a political horizon that will lead to a Palestinian state".
Earlier in the day, Rice met with Olmert and the two agreed to hold a three-way meeting with Abbas soon.
During her on-going Middle East tour started on Saturday, Rice has already met with senior Israeli officials, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordanian King Abdullah II to discuss peace in the region.
Rice's Mideast tour will also take her to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
