US president George Bush has left Belfast after meeting Taoiseach Brian Cowen and British prime minister Gordon Brown.
Mr Bush held a private meeting with First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at Stormont Castle in Belfast before meeting Mr Cowen and Mr Brown for talks on the Northern Ireland economy.
"People who come look at the government, the people, the situation and realize this is a good place to invest,'' Mr Bush said after his meetings. "Northern Ireland is a success story."
He described Northern Ireland's peacemaking progress as a success story for other areas of conflict.
Delegations from Iraq have toured Northern Ireland to learn how peace can work and investment help transform an economy.
"The interesting thing about the progress being made here in Northern Ireland is that it has attracted the attention of societies around the world that wonder whether reconciliation is possible for them," Mr Bush said after his meetings.
Mr Bush's visit to Stormont Castle began with a private meeting with Mr Robinson and Mr McGuiness.
Following their talks in Mr Robinson’s private office, the three men joined the Taoiseach and the British prime minister for talks on the Northern Ireland economy.
Talks were held at the Northern Ireland Cabinet table, where the political leaders were joined by Finance Minister Nigel Dodds and Ulster Unionist Party leader Sir Reg Empey.
Following the meetings, which lasted one and a half hours, the president visited an integrated school in Belfast.
Mr Bush’s visit fulfils a pledge he made to former First Minister Ian Paisley and Mr McGuiness when he met them at the White House last December.
Having been involved at various stages in the Northern Ireland peace process, the president was understood to be keen to see the dividends of new political dispensation before he leaves the Oval Office at the turn of the year.
President George W. Bush with Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness
Former First Minister Ian Paisley reportedly struck up a good rapport with Mr Bush during the 82-year-old North Antrim MP’s visit to the United States last year.
Security levels across the city were stepped up ahead of the visit. The Stormont estate has been closed to the public since Saturday and a no fly zone has been imposed. Assembly business at Parliament Buildings was cancelled to accommodate the event.
A series of anti-war demonstrations were scheduled to take place in the city centre during the visit. Small groups of demonstrators opposed to his visit gathered in Belfast's city centre and outside the gates of the Stormont complex, blasting the US war in Iraq.
Yesterday human rights activists staged a protest outside Belfast City Hall calling on the First and Deputy First Ministers to tackle Mr Bush on the US treatment of terror suspects.
This is the second time Mr Bush has visited Northern Ireland as president.