WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- President Dmitriy Medvedev of the Russian Federation will be visiting the United States later this month, the White House said Friday.

President Barack Obama will be welcoming the Russian President on June 22 to 24 to explore possible avenues of greater cooperation regarding trade, investment and innovation. The two Presidents will hold a bilateral meeting at the White House on June 24, to discuss these issues, as well as other issues of mutual concern leading into the G-8 and G-20 meetings.  

"Over the last eighteen months, the United States and Russia have made significant strides in resetting relations between our two countries in ways that advance our mutual interests," the U.S. State Department said.

President Obama and President Medvedev met for the first time in London in April 2009, beginning a close collaboration that has enhanced the security and well-being of the American and Russian people, including the expansion of the Northern Distribution Network, which supplies our troops in Afghanistan.

"The signing of the New START Treaty, which reduces our nuclear arsenals, enhances transparency about our strategic forces, and demonstrates U.S. and Russian leadership in support of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty."

In addition, the Bilateral President Commission was created, which has increased the interactions among Americans and Russians on a wide range of issues, including emergency disaster response, space, counternarcotics, counterterrorism, energy efficiency, and trade and investment, among others.

In conjunction with the visit, Russian and American business leaders and civil society leaders, will be holding their own meetings in Washington.

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