US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has met Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou in Washington.

After the meeting, Ms Clinton said the United States would support Greece's efforts to deal with its financial crisis.

While adding that Greece had not asked the United States for assistance for economic help, she said
Mr Papandreou's efforts to improve his nation's economy had been exemplary.

She said: "Among our most pressing, shared challenges today is the global economic crisis that has thrown people out of work, shuttered businesses, and drained government coffers in both the United States and Greece. I want to commend the Greek prime minister for his leadership in tackling the challenge.”

The Greek government has promised to slash its budget deficit from nearly 13 percent of gross domestic product to less than three percent by 2012.

Mr. Papandreou has said the Greek government will make sure it has in place steps to restructure the Greek economy, make it a green economy, develop agriculture, attract investment and develop the tourist industry.