Quite clearly we need your support and involvement to solve these problems

President Thabo Mbeki

He made the promise in a joint statement with his South African counterpart, Thabo Mbeki, after a meeting in the White House.

As well as agreeing to improve relations, the two leaders expressed concern over the trouble in Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola.

President Bush backed the goals of the Millennium African Recovery Plan - a plan for African development being worked out by Mr Mbeki along with the presidents of Nigeria and Algeria.

The specific detail of the plan has not yet been released as the draft is still being worked on.

Help needed

"You know the challenges we face in South Africa," Mr Mbeki told Mr Bush, "and the challenges we face on the African continent. Quite clearly we need your support and involvement to solve these problems."

My administration has made a commitment to work with leaders like President Mbeki on the continent of Africa to provide hope for people

President George W Bush

Mr Bush responded by saying his "administration has made a commitment to work with leaders like President Mbeki on the continent of Africa to provide hope for people."

Mr Mbeki was challenged by journalists about his attitude towards Aids and whether South Africa was doing enough to deal with the problem.

Mr Mbeki said people should actually look at what his government is doing rather than what people are saying about it.

He also said that fighting Aids, along with other diseases will be a crucial part of the strategy to promote African development.