Russian leader stresses openness on first tour

ASTANA (AFP) — Russia's new president, Dmitry Medvedev, declared a "pragmatic" and "open" foreign policy as he began his first foreign tour since taking office, holding talks in Kazakhstan before heading to China.

The 42-year-old struck a less hawkish tone than his predecessor Vladimir Putin in his most specific foreign policy statements since his May 7 inauguration, in an interview with Chinese journalists timed to coincide with the tour.

He stressed Russian dissatisfaction with US plans to place missile defence facilities in eastern Europe, but also said Moscow would keep talking and steered clear of making explicit threats of the kind Putin has made.

"Our foreign policy should be reasonable, pragmatic and at the same time friendly and open. And we absolutely include China among our most important foreign policy partners," he said in the interview.

On missile defence and relations with the United States, Medvedev said: ...