Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla and her U.S. counterpart, Barack Obama, met here Friday and agreed to seek cooperation beyond security and the fight against drug-trafficking.

Speaking at a news conference after their meeting at the Foreign Ministry, the two presidents said they would not focus the bilateral relationship narrowly on the drug fight.

Among other topics, Chinchilla said, they discussed how to make better use of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement.

The Costa Rican president also secured Washington's support for her country's bid to join the the Organization for Economic Development and the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Obama highlighted the joint efforts undertaken by the two countries in the development of hydrogen-based fuel as a sustainable and clean alternative to fossil fuels.

"We recognize the position of Costa Rica in the technological modernization and its role as a leader in meeting the commitments of climate change," he said.

On the fight against drug-trafficking, which both sides agreed was still at the center of their ties, Chinchilla said organized crimes must be fought through a more "comprehensive and diverse approach."

"We have to take seriously the mechanisms to prevent entry of criminal gangs in the country while providing opportunities for youth, improving judicial enforcement and guaranteeing a free and independent press," said Chinchilla.

For his part, Obama said the United States has committed more than 500 million U.S. dollars in security aid to Central America.

Obama arrived here Friday afternoon to attend a summit of the Central American Integration System, which groups Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, with the Dominican Republic being a partner member. Endi

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