US President George W. Bush met with his Colombian counterpart Alvaro Uribe at the White House yesterday.

The two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation, including the efforts to realize free trade between the United States and Colombia, local media reported, without offering too many details.

Prior to the summit, a White House spokesperson said that Bush and Uribe would deal with a range of issues, including their shared commitment to the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, continuing efforts to reduce violence and enhance peace and security in Colombia.

The Bush administration regards Colombia as "a strategic ally of the United States," and has been trying to push Congress to approve the free-trade deal with Colombia.

Bush met with Uribe at his Texas ranch in December 2007 and the two sides discussed bilateral trade and other issues of common concern.