Speaking at a press conference after a meeting with Bush, Putin said both he and Bush confirmed their determination to further boost the strategic partnership between the two countries.

"The fundamentals of the Russian-American relationship have proven to be stronger than what separated us," he said.

"What counts most is that the Russian-American partnership is not isolated but serves as a factor for uniting the world community in the face of new global challenges," he added.

Putin also said both he and Bush agreed that the United Nations should play a central role in Iraq's postwar reconstruction.

Speaking at the same occasion, Bush told reporters that he discussed with Putin about many issues such as bilateral ties, fight against terrorism and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2003)