RAMALLAH, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The president of the United States, Barack Obama, has affirmed Washington's commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state living in peace alongside the state of Israel, local media reported Thursday.

In a letter sent to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Obama said the U.S. remains deeply committed to a negotiated outcome between Palestinians and Israelis that result in an independent, viable, and contiguous Palestinian state, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

"It was a pleasure to welcome you to the White House in March, and I send my thanks for your kind gifts," read Obama's letter.

Earlier on Thursday, Abbas met with the U.S. Consul General in Jerusalem, Michael Ratney, in the West Bank city of Ramallah and discussed the recent developments in the peace process.

The latest round of U.S.-mediated Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which lasted nine months, ended late in April without achieving any tangible progress due to grave differences.