Bush lauds Sonia's qualities of leadership

New Delhi, Mar 2 (UNI) US President George W Bush and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi exchanged views on a wide range of issues when the latter called on him at the Maurya Sheraton Hotel here today.

The two leaders talked of the multi-dimensional nature of the Indo-US relationship, including cooperation in agriculture, space and nuclear energy, during the meeting which lasted 45-minutes, according to Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma.

Mr Sharma, who was present at the meeting, told UNI that terrorism also figured during the exchange of views, when Ms Gandhi impressed upon Mr Bush how India had been a target of terror attacks for during the past two decades and how a large number of innocent lives had been lost as a result.

This was where peace-loving democracies could work to end the menace, Ms Gandhi stressed.

The US President appreciated the UPA chief's qualities of leadership and the constructive role played by her in Indian politics.

Mr Bush and Ms Gandhi also talked of other shared concerns and matters of bilateral interests during the meeting, Mr Sharma said.

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