Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and British premier David Cameron agreed to make relations between the two states "more efficient and intense."
The two leaders, who earlier held only phone conversations, met in person for the first time on the sidelines of the G8 summit in Canada.
"We discussed everything within the framework of G8 and G20, but more importantly we discussed the current state of affairs in our bilateral relations and agreed that they require certain adjustment," the Russian leader said.
"We are determined to make them [relations] more efficient and intense. I hope that our contacts will bring about closer cooperation. We already have such cooperation in certain spheres, and it is useful," he added.
Cameron, who took office on May 11, said the meeting would provide a "real opportunity to put the bilateral relationship on a new footing, to try to make a stronger start and work through the issues where we have agreement and those where we still have things to work through."
He said they discussed economic issues, including the consequences of the global financial recession, as well as situation in the Middle East and Iran.
The British prime minister also said that he would follow Medvedev's Twitter account.
Relations between Russia and Britain have been soured by a range of disputes, including the controversial death of former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006, Russia's pressure on the British Council and Britain's criticism of Moscow following the Russian-Georgian military conflict in August 2008.
Foreign Secretary William Hague said in late May that the new British government was set to take a "major effort" to improve relations with Russia and called on Moscow to do the same.
Earlier in May, Russian presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko expressed hope that relations between the two countries would improve after the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government came to power.
HUNTSVILLE, Canada, June 26 (RIA Novosti)
