US President Barack Obama has met Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential candidate, over lunch at the White House during which the discussions between the two leaders focused on America’s leadership in the world.

The lunch in the Private Dining Room adjacent to the Oval Office of White House lasted for over an hour yesterday. Their lunch menu included white turkey chili and Southwestern grilled chicken salad. In the November 6 presidential elections, Obama defeated Romney, the former Governor of Massachusetts.

“Governor Romney congratulated the President for the success of his campaign and wished him well over the coming four years. The focus of their discussion was on America’s leadership in the world and the importance of maintaining that leadership position in the future,” the White House said after the meeting.

“They pledged to stay in touch, particularly if opportunities to work together on shared interests arise in the future,” it said.

Earlier the White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said: “this was a conversation the President wanted to have with Romney, as he mentioned on the night of the election’’.

“I think that he’s very interested in some of Governor Romney’s ideas,” he said.

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