WASHINGTON, July 3: US President George W. Bush will receive Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at the Oval Office on July 28, the White House said on Thursday.

The president welcomes the opportunity to talk to Prime Minister Gilani on ways to further advance bilateral cooperation with Pakistan on a broad range of issues, the White House said.

The talks will focus on counterterrorism, economic development, and regional cooperation, said the official US announcement, noting that the US-Pakistan strategic partnership is grounded firmly in the shared objectives of promoting democracy and combating extremism.

Besides President Bush, Mr Gilani is scheduled to meet Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Defence Secretary Robert Gates and other senior officials of the US administration.