Russia's new President Dmitry Medvedev and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged to develop bilateral ties and cooperation in their phone talks on Sunday, the Kremlin said.

They discussed bilateral economic ties and vowed to further cooperate in other areas, Interfax cited Kremlin sources as saying.

Brown congratulated Medvedev on his inauguration that took place on May 7 and they agreed to meet within the framework of the Group of Eight summit in Japan, the Kremlin said.

Relations between Russia and Britain were strained due to the murder case of a former Russian spy in London in 2006.

(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2008)