President Barack Obama says the United States is considering putting together a free trade pact with Georgia.

Mr. Obama welcomed Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili to the White House Monday, saying both countries have agreed to talk about ways to strengthen trade. The U.S. leader said this includes a possible free trade agreement.

President Saakashvili said a free trade deal with the United States would be very important for Georgia. He said nothing can take away the progress Georgia has made toward building a democracy or take the country back to the days of autocratic rule and corruption.

Mr. Obama said Georgians should be extraordinarily proud of building a sovereign and democratic country that he says can be a model for the whole world. He also said the United States is grateful for Georgia's contributions to the war in Afghanistan, and that Washington supports Georgian aspirations to join NATO.