US proposals to site an anti-missile defence shield in Europe dominated face-to-face talks here Friday between US President George W. Bush and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.


Putin said their meeting of around an hour at a Sydney hotel "above all was related to missile defence," but neither men gave details.

The Russian leader said experts from both sides would meet again soon and inspect a radar station it operates in Azerbaijan which Moscow has suggested the United States could use instead.

"In this way we are continuing joint work in this direction," Putin said.

Their talks also touched on Iran`s nuclear programme, Russia`s bid to join the World Trade Organisation and environmental issues.

Putin also told reporters in a brief joint appearance afterwards that he and Bush had agreed to go fishing together in Siberia.

Bush described their talks as "both cordial and constructive".
sections: Politics, World News