US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met Russia's foreign minister yesterday, symbolically presenting him with a red "reset" button to improve ties that sank to a post-Cold War low during the Bush Administration.

No decisions were expected in their first substantive talks which were to cover issues from reducing nuclear arsenals and missile defence to US concerns over Georgia.

Mrs Clinton told Mr Lavrov she looked forward to better ties. "We mean it," she said before the two sat down to a working dinner.

"I would like to present you with a little gift that represents what President Obama and Vice-President Biden and I have been saying and that is:

'We want to reset our relationship and so we will do it together'," said Mrs Clinton, presenting Mr Lavrov with a palm-sized yellow box with a red reset button.

Mrs Clinton and Mr Lavrov had dinner on the 18th floor of the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva. They joked about the Russian misspelling of "reset" on the button before sitting down at an oval table with aides.

"We worked hard to get the right Russian word. Do you think we got it?" Mrs Clinton asked. "You got it wrong," said Mr Lavrov, telling her "Peregruzka" meant "overcharge".

Mr Lavrov and Mrs Clinton's predecessor Condoleezza Rice had a difficult relationship but the new top US diplomat smiled broadly and looked relaxed.

A senior US official said he hoped this would be the first of a range of substantive talks between the two, as well as preparing for a summit between US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

He said a key topic would be how to reduce nuclear arsenals and how to get the correct verification procedures. Mrs Clinton would also tackle differences between the two nations, such as Moscow's actions in Georgia, and urge Russia to cease the sale of longer-range missiles to Iran.

"It is important that we can cooperate with the Russians on issues of mutual interest and not check our values at the door," he said.

When Russia sent tanks and troops into Georgia last year, the Bush Administration sought to isolate Moscow, especially in international institutions such as Nato, which suspended ties.

Mrs Clinton yesterday said she wanted a fresh start, but said divisions remained on Nato expansion and Russia's relations with its neighbours.