MOSCOW, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Russia's new President Dmitry Medvedev held phone talks with his United States counterpart George W. Bush on Monday, Russian news agency reported, citing the Kremlin.

    Bush congratulated Medvedev on his inauguration which was held on May 7 and "both sides expressed willingness to continue a fruitful top-level dialogue that has played the key role in Russian-U.S. relations in recent years," the Kremlin was quoted assaying.

    "Medvedev and Bush named the recently adopted Sochi declaration on strategic framework for relations between the two countries as a reliable support for this," it said.

    The head of states discussed bilateral and international issues, agreed to hold regular contacts before a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit in Japan in early July.

    Medvedev, then first deputy prime minister and president-elect, met in Russia's Black Sea resort Sochi in April with Bush who was hosted by Medevedev's predecessor Vladimir Putin.

    Putin, now prime minister, is to meet with Bush again during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games in August, Itar-Tass said.

    Relations between Moscow and Washington were strained in recent years thanks to arrays of disputes, especially U.S. plans to deploy anti-missile components in Central Europe despite of Russia's objection.