Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov both cited recent steps to improve cooperation including a major arms control agreement.

In statements after signing the agreements Wednesday, the two officials played down differences on issues including missile defense and Libya.

Among the accords, Lavrov and Clinton signed a document ending a contentious dispute over U.S. adoption of Russian children. They also signed an agreement to ease visa rules.

Lavrov noted that the agreements transcended the usual strategic concerns. He said: "we have a new quality to our cooperation."