Argentine President Nestor Kirchner, in his talks with US President George W. Bush on Friday morning ahead of the Summit of the Americas, called for "constructive" US involvement in Argentina and Latin America at large.

"The president reminds me that US involvement in the neighborhood should be constructive and positive and I agree," Bush said at a joint press appearance with Kirchner.

Bush also urged the Argentine government to fight corruption to attract foreign investment and strengthen democratic institutions.

"I reminded him that the best involvement that can happen is when countries make wise decisions to attract investment; that there be consistency in law ... that when a government fights corruption, that government sends a signal to investors, large and small, that this is a good place to take risk," Bush said.

He added institutions are important for the improvement of the lives of the people and it is important for leaders to stand up and defend those institutions.

In brief remarks, Kirchner said he had a "very clear, open and candid" meeting with President Bush and he "clearly" expressed his thoughts on "a wide range of issues" to his US counterpart.

Relations between Bush and Kirchner have been chilly. Argentina has been an opponent of the Iraq war launched by the Bush administration, although Argentina is the only country in Latin America that hold "major non-NATO ally" status with the United States.

Source: Xinhua