Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that the work of the visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has helped improve Russian-US relations which he hopes will be strengthened by her visit to Moscow, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

Putin told Rice in talks at the Kremlin that with her direct participation "relations between Russia and the United States have achieved the high level where they are now."

He said he hoped the two countries would continue to work on a wider and stronger relationship.

Putin now expects US President George W. Bush in Moscow for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II on May 9, during which the two presidents will hold a series of talks, Putin said.

Rice said Bush is preparing for his meeting with Putin and that the US would like to see a Russia that continues to develop confidently, promotes democratic reforms and strengthens the rule of law.
 
Putin and Rice also discussed regional stability, the fight against terrorism and the economic development of their respective countries.

Before her meeting with Putin, Rice accepted an interview with the Ekho Moskvy radio station in Moscow on Wednesday, she said the United States believes that as Russia's involvement in Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant plays a "positive role" in dealing with Iran's nuclear issues.

Rice softened her recent harsh tone against Moscow during the interview by calling Russia a "strategic partner" and urged cooperation on various areas.

"We see Russia as a strategic partner in the war on terror. We see Russia as a strategic partner in stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction. We see Russia as a strategic partner in solving regional issues like the Balkans and the Middle East," she said.

Since her arrival, Rice has been critical on issues including the centralization of power in the Kremlin, the limited freedom of the Russia media and the recent sale of some 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles to Venezuela.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2005)