U.S. vice president meets Iraqi PM
2009-10-20
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki here on Monday, expressing hope that the two countries will promote cooperation under the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement.
"The Vice President also encouraged the Iraqi Council of Representatives to act expeditiously on an election law that will set the terms for transparent political participation in the upcoming Iraqi national elections," Biden's office said in a statement.
The statement also attached importance to the Oct. 20-21 U.S.-Iraq Business and Investment Conference due to be held in Washington, noting that it is an important effort to promote bilateral cooperation.
Biden, who visited Iraq last month, is in charge of Iraq's development as the United States is preparing a troop withdrawal from Iraq.
By the end of this month, U.S. troop strength in Iraq will be 120,000, a decrease of 23,000 since January, the top U.S. military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Stephen R. Lanza, said last week. The next big reduction is expected after Iraq's parliamentary elections in January.
