国际英语新闻：Russia, U.S. to cooperate in emergencies

MOSCOW, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Russia and the United States on Friday signed a statement that outlined key areas of cooperation over the next few years in line with the objectives set by the two countries' presidents.

The U.S.-Russian bilateral presidential commission's working group on cooperation in preventing and handling emergency situations is headed by Russian Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu and Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency of U.S. Department of Homeland Security Craig Fugate.

"This is the first meeting between Russian and U.S. chief emergencies officials under the presidential program," said Yury Brazhnikov, a representative from the Russian emergencies ministry.

Among cooperative areas are joint assessment of food security and preparedness for emergencies in Central Asia, joint humanitarian response drills in third countries and exchange of specialists and information between Russian and U.S. humanitarian aid agencies.

One of the immediate joint projects is providing aid to Kyrgyz population, Brazhnikov said.

"We are conducting a humanitarian aid mission in Kyrgyzstan and have now started working under the guidance of the United Nations. We will also try the experience of our cooperation with the U.S.," he said as quoted by news agencies.