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Russia's rock-music-loving president hosted U2 frontman Bono at his resplendent residence near the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Tuesday, and praised him for writing music "that unites generations."
Dmitry Medvedev, a well-known fan of the classic rock acts Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, complimented the 50-year-old singer, six years his senior, for highlighting problems in Africa, such as poverty and the spread of HIV/AIDS.
"You are doing important things, because taking care of people is not only a job for politicians," Medvedev said.
The president chatted in English with Bono, whose band will play its first-ever concert in Russia on Wednesday as part of its "360" world tour.
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Medvedev, in jeans and gray shirt, and Bono, in his trademark dark glasses, stubble and earring, sipped tea on the verandah.
Bono, a noted philanthropist whose humanitarian work has also included pushing rich nations to write off billion-dollar debts to poverty-stricken countries, told Medvedev that spending 40 cents per day could eliminate the transfer of HIV from mother to child by 2015.
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"The charity work that you and your colleagues do has brought you respect all over the world," Medvedev said.
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