United States president Barack Obama addressed a prayer breakfast attended by Premier Michael Dunkley this morning, on the second day of his Washington, DC official visit.

Mr Dunkley, along with Economic Development Grant Gibbons, also met with Democratic Minority Leader Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi to discuss matters of mutual interest.

Prior to the 63rd Annual National Prayer Breakfast, Mr Dunkley joined about 30 leaders from various countries for a “pre-meeting for Heads of State”, a Cabinet spokeswoman said this evening.

Leaders “networked and discussed matters of mutual interest with US Congressional leaders”, the spokeswoman added.

“At the National Prayer Breakfast this morning, President Obama used the opportunity to address the current international terrorism challenges with ISIL, and urged those in attendance to reject religious persecution and intolerance and instead strive to be ‘instruments of peace’.”

As well as meeting Ms Pelosi, Mr Dunkley and Dr Gibbons met with Chuck Schumer, Senior Democratic Senator from New York; Republican Whip and third-ranking Republican leader in the House, Congressman Steve Scalise, and Republican Senator Joni Ernst.

According to the Premier, he and Dr Gibbons spent “close to an hour with Leader Pelosi discussing an array of topics such as the America’s Cup, tourism and environmental matters, hotel development, tax and banking reform, security services and border control and Bermuda’s historical links with the US”.

Mr Dunkley added: “Congresswoman Pelosi was very engaging and very receptive to what we had to say. She posed numerous questions to us about Bermuda and we were very pleased to have access to such a distinguished member of Congress.”

The Premier and Dr Gibbons will finish their meetings tomorrow morning, when they meet with Mark Mazur, Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy at the US Department of Treasury.