Bush and Brown vow co-operation
Mr Bush (left) praised Mr Brown for the UK＇s battle against terrorism
US President George W Bush and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown have pledged to forge a strategic relationship based on values shared between both nations.
They met at Camp David, near Washington, their first meeting since Mr Brown succeeded Tony Blair as UK PM.
Talks focused on issues including Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur and world trade.
Mr Brown denounced terrorism as a crime, not a cause, while Mr Bush said the UK fully understood the importance of striving for success in Iraq.
"The consequences of failure in Iraq would be a disaster for the United States, and this prime minister understands that," Mr Bush said.
The UK strongly backed the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, but now plans to reduce troop numbers and scale back its operations over the coming year.
The BBC＇s Adam Brookes, at Camp David, says Mr Bush used soaring rhetoric on the subject of good and evil, while Gordon Brown was much more specific, detailing a long list of what the two men had talked about.
Warmth and humour
However, Mr Brown denied suggestions that his view of terrorism differed greatly from that of Mr Bush.
"We know we are in a common struggle, we know we have to work together, and we know we have to deal with it," he said.
"Today in 2007 we see the challenges are radically different to 10 years ago," Mr Brown added, citing climate change, Africa, and the search for a Middle East peace process as key issues.
Our correspondent says the news conference was a concerted effort to give a strong impression of personal chemistry between the two men.
Britain and America＇s policies on Iraq are in step - for now, at least
BBC political editor Nick Robinson
Read Nick＇s thoughts in full
The US president spoke warmly of the so-called "special relationship" with the UK, describing it as "our most important bilateral relationship" - the same term used by Mr Brown ahead of his trip to the US.
The president said he found Mr Brown a warm, humorous man, far removed from the "dour Scotsman" image sometimes portrayed by the media.
He also paid tribute to Mr Brown＇s personal strength in overcoming the death of his first child in 2002.
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