Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton met on Saturday, Sept 8 on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the Russian Far East, RIA Novosti reported.

The Russian seaport of Vladivostok hosts the APEC summit, whose official part is held on September 8-9. U.S. President Barack Obama was unable to attend the summit due to the ongoing presidential election campaign.

To start the talks, Lavrov and Clinton signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the Antarctic region, a joint statement to strengthen bilateral interregional cooperation, as well as an agreement on cooperation in the Bering Strait.

Lavrov praised the Antarctic memorandum, saying it means the two countries are “set for joint mutually beneficial work on the entire range of Antarctic issues.”

Clinton noted constructive results of joint Russia-U.S. efforts in the past few years, including the New START treaty, increased trade and investment, Russia’s admission to the World Trade Organization. She also emphasized a visa facilitation agreement for business travel and tourism that will come into force on Sunday.