"They talked about the need for the two nations to continue to work together on Iran and that it is important for that cooperation to continue into the new administration," which starts January 20, said spokeswoman Dana Perino.
Bush and Medvedev, who met on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, did not disguise the often profound differences between Moscow and Washington, Perino suggested.
They "had a cordial, but honest and direct exchange," she said, using the kind of diplomatic terms of art usually reserved for blunt talk.
"They discussed a variety of issues including our differences on Georgia, which continue," Perino said in a statement.
The two leaders also discussed the global economic meltdown, judging the Group of 20 summit in Washington last week "a success" given the consensus on a statement of principles for managing the meltdown, said Perino.
"They discussed the need for reform of financial institutions but without sacrificing the advantages of a market system," she said.
Amid spectacular pirate attacks off the Somali coast, Bush and Medvedev "discussed piracy and tasked their foreign ministers to work together to obtain international support for an aggressive strategy against the piratesm," said Perino.
