U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has met with Peruvian President-elect Ollanta Humala, who takes office later this month.

Secretary Clinton met with the incoming Peruvian leader Wednesday at the State Department. Speaking to reporters, Clinton said the United States looks forward to working with the president-elect when he assumes office in just a short time. She said Mr. Humala has a big agenda in front of him and that the U.S. stands ready to be his partner.

Mr. Humala spoke of the importance of the bilateral relationship and said it is his intention to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Peru.

The incoming Peruvian president and leftist former army officer was elected last month following a runoff election. He narrowly beat Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of imprisoned former president Alberto Fujimori. In 2000, Mr. Humala launched a failed military coup against then-president Fujimori.

Mr. Humala's victory comes five years after he lost the presidential race to incumbent Alan Garcia, who leaves office July 28.

In 2006, Mr. Humala was seen as a close ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who publicly endorsed him for president of Peru at that time. Some reports alleged the Venezuelan government helped finance that campaign. Mr. Humala has since distanced himself from Mr. Chavez.

Mr. Humala has promised to give poor Peruvians a greater share of the Andean nation's considerable mineral wealth and to honor the free market.

Mr. Humala's brother, Antauro, is in prison for a 2005 rebellion against the government of then-president Alejandro Toledo. The rebellion left four police officers dead. Ollanta Humala has been accused of human rights abuses, which have never been proven.