U.S. President George W. Bush walks with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Tuesday, June 13, 2006, at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.  (File Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Nov. 27 -- Iraq's government says it will offer the US long-term troop deployment in Iraq and preferential treatment for American investments in exchange for American's guarantee of long-term security.

    The two countries have agreed to start formal negotiations next year about their future relationship including the size and role of American forces.

    Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and US President George W. Bush signed a non-binding deal during a video meeting. They have agreed to start formal negotiations next year on their future relationship.

    Nuri al-Maliki, Iraqi Prime Minister, said, "Iraq and the US will begin bilateral talks as soon as possible to reach an agreement before July the 31st, 2008 outlining friendship and cooperation between the two independent governments and states in the fields of culture, the economy and security."

    The US has over 160 thousand troops in Iraq. And there have been strong calls for an early troop pullout.

    The US says the shape and size of any long-term US presence in Iraq will be a key issue for negotiation between both countries.

    The UN Security Council mandate for the multinational force in Iraq expires at the end of the year. The US expects it will be renewed for another year. After this the US relationship with Iraq will be governed through negotiated bilateral agreements.

(Source: CCTV.com)