US President George W. Bush met in Washington on Thursday leaders from the Dominican Republic and the five Central American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua to discuss free trade and regional cooperation.

"The best way to achieve peace and prosperity for our hemisphere is by strengthening democracy and continuing the economic transformation of Central America and the Dominican Republic," Bush said after the meeting.

Bush was joined by presidents Abel Pacheco of Costa Rica, Leonel Fernandez of the Dominican Republic, Elias Antonio Saca of El Salvador, Oscar Berger of Guatemala, Ricardo Maduro of Hondurasand Enrique Bolanos of Nicaragua.

Bush's meeting with Central American leaders occurred as he tries to win approval of the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) that would eliminate most tariffs and trade barriers between the United States and the six Latin American countries.

CAFTA was signed in May 2004. The Dominican Republic joined the group shortly afterward. The agreement has already been ratified by the legislatures of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

"All of us agree that the Central American and Dominican Republic free trade agreement presents us with an historic opportunity to advance common goals in an important part of our neighborhood," Bush said.

Bush signed the pact last May, but it needs the approval of Congress. Central American nations hope the US Congress will vote on it in late May or early June.

(Xinhua News Agency May 13, 2005)