U.S., Russia to enhance nuclear energy cooperation

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United States and Russia has agreed to enhance global and bilateral nuclear energy cooperation, said a statement released by the Energy Department on Tuesday.

"U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman and Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) Director Sergey V. Kiriyenko last week submitted to U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin a joint work plan that will provide a framework for further bilateral cooperation in the development of nuclear energy technology and deployment," said the statement.

The plan was completed and signed by both sides as part of an agreement that stemmed from the G8 Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, in July of this year, the statement added.

"The safe expansion of emissions-free nuclear energy provides a wealth of possibilities to developed and developing countries alike," Bodman said in the statement.

"This agreement between our two nations will help further nuclear technology, but also the path to more securely expand the use of nuclear energy around the world," he added.

The plan details principal areas of cooperation as well as short- term cooperative focus areas, underscoring that both countries see a strong need and role for the expansion of safe, emissions-free nuclear power.

In addition, it discusses the two nations' common vision for the structure of the global nuclear energy system of the future, and for discouraging the spread of sensitive nuclear fuel cycle technologies through comprehensive nuclear fuel services, according to the statement.