Bush, Putin Agree to Work for Better Ties, But Differences Remain

U.S. President George W. Bush and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday agreed to work for a better relationship between the two countries but differences still remained.

"We found a good basis to start building on cooperation, counting on a pragmatic relationship between Russia and the United States," Putin said at a joint news conference held with Bush inside Brdo Castle, where the two leaders just finished a two-hour summit meeting.

The Russian president described his meeting with Bush as an " honest, frank dialogue."

Citing his talks with Putin as "straightforward and productive, " Bush said the summit is "an important step in building a constructive, respectful relationship with Russia."

"I am convinced that he and I can build a relationship of mutual respect and candor," Bush said.

Both leaders also agreed to exchange visits for further dialogue on a wide range of issues.

Despite the positive tones struck by both leaders at the press conference, however, differences between the two sides remain over a number of issues, especially the U.S. plan to deploy missile defense shield.

"Any unilateral actions can openly make more complicated" problems and issues between the two countries, Putin said. " Differences in approaches do exist," he added.

Bush also admitted that both sides still differed on a number of issues such as the Chechenya issue and media relations.

(Xinhua 06/17/2001)