UK and US to strengthen collaboration in six areas

[News_Editor]

UK and US to strengthen collaboration in six areas

2011-05-25 22:04:12 GMT+7 (ICT)

LONDON (BNO NEWS) -- The United Kingdom and the United States on Wednesday announced that they will strengthen their bilateral collaboration in six specific areas in the coming months.

The announcement came during the visit of U.S. President Barack Obama to the UK where he met on Wednesday with Prime Minister David Cameron. The two leaders also met with armed-service personnel from the U.S. and from the UK.

The strengthened collaboration will include security and support to Armed Forces personnel; commitments to collaboration in science, higher education, volunteerism and international development; and the development of cyberspace.

"The U.S. president and I, together with my Deputy Prime Minister, have just had some excellent discussions," said PM Cameron. "We've been talking today about the two things we care about most -- getting our people jobs and keeping our people safe."

The two sides agreed to increase the links between higher education institutions' through increased post-graduate student and researcher exchange programs. In addition, the two nations will collaborate on an ambitious program to create the world’s first combined space weather model.

In regards to the armed forces, the UK and the U.S. will work together to establish a Service Personnel and Veterans Task Force in order to provide greater support for active serving members and veterans.

Cameron and Obama agreed to advance economic growth; prevent conflict in fragile states; improve global health particularly for girls and women; and mitigate the effects of climate change. These initiatives are expected to improve the lives of 1.2 billion people in the world.

The U.S. Peace Corps and the VSO will jointly promote volunteering and active citizenship through people to people exchanges. The two organizations will enhance their effectiveness by sharing best practice in training, systems and innovation.

The two leaders also agreed on cooperating to accelerate the opportunities and growth that cyberspace offers the global economy. In addition, a UK-U.S. Joint Strategy Board will help developing a coordinated approach to long term challenges in the global economic and security environment.

The board will be co-chaired by the U.S. National Security Staff and the UK National Security Secretariat. It will report to U.S. and UK National Security Advisors, Thomas Donilon and Sir Peter Ricketts.

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