Tunis — The US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman , who is on an official visit in Tunisia, has declared that "My visit in Tunisia allowed me to witness development of the country which has achieved rather laudable rates in matters of economic growth and technological progress."

Meeting with the press on Wednesday in Tunis, Mr. Jeffrey Feltman said the talks he had had focused on bilateral relations in different fields of co-operation, especially in the sectors of education, environment, culture, trade and finance.

He added that he also discussed prospects of partnership between the two countries' businessmen, stressing that the exchanges should benefit both countries' operators.

The US official also stressed that both Tunisia and the United States had agreed on the need to increase and diversify exchanges and bilateral co-operation, in light of the increasing visits by US businessmen to Tunisia.

He further added that his visit which comes on the eve of the Arab Summit of Syrta in Lybia and in light of the Middle East issue, testified to wisdom of the Tunisian approach, affirming in this regard, "we believe that we have a lot to learn from the wisdom and analysis of the Tunisian side."

Moreover, Mr. Feltman said that the long-standing relations of understanding and friendship between the United States and Tunisia incited to draw inspiration from the rightness of views and approaches of Tunisian authorities, regarding the future of the situation in the Middle East as part of an approach aimed at bolstering the peace process.