U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Monday on a mission to soothe disagreements that include Syria and U.S. policy on Iran.

But despite a public show of friendship, big differences remain.

At a news conference alongside Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, Kerry spoke of the enduring ties between the countries.

(SOUNDBITE)(English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY, SAYING:

"Our relationship is strategic, it is enduring, it covers of wide range of bilateral and regional issues."

While Kerry said he sees no military solution in Syria, he underscored that the U.S. and Saudi Arabia share the same aim.

(SOUNDBITE)(English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY, SAYING:

"There is no difference about our mutually agreed upon objective in Syria. As I have said many times before, Assad has lost all legitimacy. And Assad must go."

Faisal also played down the differences.

(SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) SAUDI FO