WASHINGTON, July 6 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama had a brief, unscheduled meeting at the White House Wednesday with Peruvian President-elect Ollanta Humala.
Obama dropped in on a meeting between Humala and U.S. National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, the White House said in a statement.
Obama congratulated Humala on his electoral victory last month and stressed "the value of the long-standing relationship between the United States and Peru to address a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues," the statement said.
"The president and President-elect Humala discussed the importance of coupling sound market-based economic policies with efforts to increase economic and social inclusion, noting the significant success enjoyed by those countries in the Americas that have adopted such an approach," the White House said. "President Obama underscored the United States' commitment to supporting similar efforts in Peru. The leaders also discussed the importance of deepening U.S. and Peruvian environmental cooperation, as well as working to advance comprehensive approaches to enhancing counter-narcotics cooperation and citizen security."
Running as a leftist opposition candidate, Humala -- a former military commander who ran for president in 2006 only to lose in a runoff -- defeated conservative Keiko Fujimori in a runoff in June.
Humala said in his victory speech Peruvians would get a greater share of the country's mineral wealth and vowed to make Peru's economy "the great motor of the social inclusion that Peruvians desire."
