U2's Bono asks Russia's Medvedev to help beat AIDS

Bono, sporting his trademark sunglasses and single earring, asked Medvedev to find a Russian firm to team up for his "Red" campaign, which raises money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Brands Nike, Microsoft, Apple and Starbucks have sold red products and donated part of the proceeds to the charity.

"Maybe you can find a Russian company, a Red Russian company, it's your color," Bono told Medvedev, an apparent reference to the red flags and stars used by the Soviet Union.

Medvedev said he would think how Russia, which experts say has at least one million people infected with HIV, could contribute to the Red brand.

The two men also shared jokes about their tastes in music, with Bono declaring: "I come here to cross the great divide between me, a Led Zeppelin fan, and you, the Deep Purple fan."

Medvedev, who has made much fuss of his devotion to the veteran British hard rock group, chuckled but replied in English that he also counted Led Zeppelin amongst his favorites.

Bono later said in a statement that he and the Kremlin chief had also discussed corruption as a means to ending poverty.

Since coming to office two years ago, Medvedev has vowed repeatedly to tackle Russia's endemic corruption, though analysts say they have seen very little change so far.

(Writing by Amie Ferris-Rotman)

© 2010 Thomson Reuters