In this Dec 22, 2018 file photo, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gestures as he speaks during a meeting of the Palestinian leadership in the West Bank city of Ramallah. (MAJDI MOHAMMED / AP)

UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations says Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and stressed again that a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the only path to peace.

Antonio Guterres stressed again that a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the only path to peace

Guterres' strong backing for an independent Palestinian state came ahead of the release of a long-awaited US plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace and Israeli elections in April.

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UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric says Guterres also congratulated Abbas during Monday's meeting on the election of the Palestinians to preside over the Group of 77, a bloc of 134 mainly developing nations and China that promotes their collective interests at the United Nations. Abbas will take over the chairmanship from Egypt on Tuesday.

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As Abbas and his entourage left UN headquarters, Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour told reporters: "It was a good meeting."