Jordanian King Abdullah II arrived in the West Bank on Thursday for what Palestinians have described as the first "state visit" to their territory since Palestine was recognized as a United Nations non-member observer state, dpa reported. King Abdullah II was welcomed by an honour guard as he landed by helicopter in President Mahmoud Abbas' presidential headquarters, in the central West Bank city of Ramallah. A week ago, the General Assembly voted to upgrade Palestine's status at the UN, in what has been regarded as a diplomatic victory for Abbas. Of the assembly's 193 members, only nine voted against, while 41 abstained. Jordanian officials said the monarch would offer his congratulations on the successful UN appeal. Jordan is an important backer of the Palestinians and the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.