Relations between the two countries have been consistently strained since Saakashvili came to power in Georgia four years ago, being damaged by numerous disputes, most recently over Russia's moves to develop closer ties with Georgia's two breakaway regions.
The Russian leader, in a message to Saakashvili congratulating Georgia on its Independence Day, said: "I hope for constructive interaction between our countries in the interests of developing good-neighborly relations and stronger stability and security in the Caucasus."
"I sincerely wish peace and prosperity for the Georgian people, with whom we have age-old ties of friendship and kindred spirit," the message released by the Kremlin said.
Relations between Russia and Georgia saw a new low in April when then president Vladimir Putin instructed the government to establish closer ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia accuses Russia of trying to annex the provinces, while Russian officials have said Tbilisi plans to invade Abkhazia.
The pro-Western Georgian leadership's plans to join NATO, and a series of blockade measures imposed on Georgia by Russia in 2006 have also presented major setbacks in ties between the countries in recent years.
