US President George W. Bush and visiting Mongolian President Nachagyn Bagabandy agreed here Thursday to continue cooperation between the two countries over international issues.

"The United States and Mongolia agreed to continue working to advance Mongolia's contribution to international peacekeeping efforts,'' said a joint statement by the two sides after Bush met with Bagabandy.

Bush thanked the Mongolian government for sending peacekeepers to Iraq and helping rebuild Afghanistan. Mongolia has deployed some 140 soldiers in Iraq.

Both leaders also agreed to promote bilateral trade and investment.

Meanwhile, the US president welcomed the recent elections in Mongolia as evidence of the nation's commitment to democracy, local media quoted sources close to the meeting as saying.

Source: Xinhua