WASHINGTON, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Obama administration will send veteran diplomat Dennis Ross on Tuesday to the Middle East for further discussions with regional leaders on common concerns, State Department announced on Monday.

    "Special Advisor Ross will travel to the Middle East beginning April 28 to discuss with Gulf and Egyptian leaders issues of mutual and regional concern," said deputy spokesman Robert Wood in a statement.

    "This trip will further advance the U.S. commitment to renewed diplomacy in the region and ongoing consultations with partners. He will travel to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Egypt," said the spokesman.

    Ross was appointed on Feb. 23 as Special Advisor to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Gulf and Southwest Asia.

    The Gulf and Southwest Asia is believed to be a vital strategic region for Washington in which the United States has been "fighting two wars and facing challenges of ongoing conflict, terror, proliferation, access to energy, economic development and strengthening democracy and the rule of law."