MOSCOW. Aug 4 (Interfax) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev expressed hope for "further progress" in Russian-U.S. relations.
"I expect that our forthcoming contacts on the fringes of the APEC [Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation] forum in Hawaii and the G20 summit in Cannes, and, of course during your visit to Russia will lay the basis for further progress on important bilateral and international issues," a Kremlin press release quoted Medvedev as saying in a birthday message to U.S. President Barack Obama, who turned 50 on Thursday.
"You have come to this important landmark in your life with a splendid baggage of professional and personal achievements," Medvedev said in his message.
"Despite serious global challenges and political risks that you have to encounter in performing your presidential duties, you have been able to carry through important reforms in the U.S. finance system and social sector in the future interests of America," he said.
"You have set new foreign policy guidelines and have demonstrated in practice how one can 'listen and hear' and find successful solutions to even the hardest of problems," Medvedev said.
"I value the confidence that has developed between us and is based on mutual respect, and our focus on practical work. This helps build a new quality for Russian-American cooperation in tune with the spirit of the times and the interests of our citizens," he said.