The United States hopes to build relations with Russia on the basis of equality, US President Barack Obama told Russian media ahead of his visit to Moscow next week.

"The main thing that I want to communicate to the Russian leadership and the Russian people is America's respect for Russia, that we want to deal as equals," Obama was quoted as saying by the Itar-Tass news agency.

As nuclear superpowers, we have to handle those responsibilities in a way that encourages peace, Obama said in an interview with Itar-Tass and Russian TV channel on Thursday.

Obama said he hoped for a new strategic arms reduction treaty that would leave no country with unilateral advantages.

"My goal is that both countries reduce their nuclear stockpiles in a way that doesn't leave either country with an advantage, but reduce tensions and the expense of maintaining such high nuclear stockpiles when they're not necessary for our defense and our deterrence," he said.

"We will be able to advance a replacement for the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I), which is due to expire in December, if we can get a framework document during the July summit," Obama said.

Other priorities on the agenda include non-proliferation and the fight against terrorism.

"We need to create a strong non-proliferation framework in the international community," Obama said.

He hoped he would reach a better understanding with the Russian leaders at the summit.

Obama is scheduled to visit Moscow from July 6-8. It will be the president's first visit to Russia since he took office in January.

(Xinhua News Agency July 4, 2009)