Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, who came into the international spotlight as a possible running mate to Republican presidential candidate John McCain, visited with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem on Monday.

While the two men did discuss regional issues of importance to both their nations, the meeting focused on strategic relations between Israel and Minnesota in the development of renewable energy.

According to a statement released by Olmert's office, Pawlenty and his team were keenly interested in Israeli advances in solar energy technologies, and enquired about forging commercial ties and increasing cooperation in this field.