Washington, June 30 (PL-RHC) -- Today at the White House, U.S. President Barack Obama received his Chilean counterpart, Michelle Bachelet, discussing economic issues and ways to strengthen the relationship between the two nations.

Bachelet and Obama reportedly talked about issues related to the UN Security Council, multilateral and regional issues, as well as the ongoing negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP), the White House said in a statement.

The TTP, in which twelve countries bordering the Pacific Ocean are involved, is aimed at creating the world's largest free trade zone, even though Santiago has decided to keep its trading cautious. The report says that both seek to expand educational exchanges and deepen cooperation in areas such as energy, and science and technology.

This is the first official visit to Washington by Bachelet since she resumed office on March 11th. It was her second meeting with Obama, with whom she met in 2009, during her first term of office.

Bachelet is accompanied by a delegation comprised of Chilean Foreign Minister Heraldo Muñoz; Economy Minister Luis Felipe Céspedes; Energy Minister Máximo Pacheco; and Treasury Minister Alberto Arenas.